





















Pass ~P Z 7 

Book 

\ j . 

Goipght}^? I't 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 


% 




I 



The Young Telephone Inventor 

















’is 


*r 


I . »r ■ •■■'V *'^1 ♦ s f'- ^ ' ■ • t' 

:;*^ 1 ' "^V. • - 


5^’ 


-tf. /I', 







.^ .■■■'= T^rf 

» <r. 


^ # 





•~4/# 






'I. ■• 


► . > 


- •. r ^ 

• I ■*« 



* ’ ^ 

HP'. -. ■ ^ . *^ 1 * *!• .■'?.»» 

t r ^ *- £-*' '! 




'•■7 . 


..W T?— 











( 1, ' ’ '■ 

••J' 

\ - ./ 

“ ■» 

♦ 

< 



.' •• 

« 4 


' . ! 





*». 


I e 


Jl 


• ‘ ^ •-* V- 

'* ■ ' :f 

S ^ 


t ..i 




* r«< i 


n 








.• n 


7 * • 

W > j ■' . ' 
ri;' S;^': / >’■ 


•>> • 





< ♦ 


-V 


t f 


-. JL 4 ». 


t i''y ] /■ 


» ' 




. d 


T..t ‘ 


''*VW-‘ 

'X »> 



^ •« 


2 




i 



t i fL *-' 




■f./' % 




W • > 

, 4 J 







lI . 







• * 



■>< 


K-: 

- 4b'^1^.!-4 i ^ 


»L t 




’-W • 

*, /. w“ •- *" - ^ 




ID • 



-Vl-W 





r ^ 


1 " 


u- 





r 



I 


/ 


I 


V 




The Young Telephone 
Inventor 

Or 

Winning With the Wire 


By 

HUGH C. WEIR 


ILLUSTRATED BT 

FRANK T. MERRILL 



« > > 

' '■ ' ■' 

W. A. WILDE COMPANY 

BOST.OiN CHICAGO 




Copyrighted, IQ17, 

By W. A. Wilde Company 
All rights reserved 

The Young Telephone Inventor 



/■ 

\r 

■JAN 12 1918 

©GI.A481389 


"N . .. \ 


To 

Paul Sunday 

son of 

Rev. Wm. A. Sunday 

a typical American boy, in the 
hope that he will make as great 
a man as his father 



Foreword 


HIS is the fifth volume of The Great Amer- 



ican Industries Series. This series, begun 
several years ago with the publication of With 
the Flag in Panama,*' has taken up in turn 
several of the largest industries of this country, 
with a double object in view. 

First, to present an accurate glimpse of the 
intimate, human details of the great achieve- 
ments of our industrial world, and of the men 
who have made those achievements possible. 

Second, to endeavor to tell an interesting, 
logical story of the struggles of modern boys 
when confronted with the big, personal problem, 
‘‘ What Shall I Make of Myself? " 

The author keenly appreciates the reception 
which has been given to the previous books in 
this series, and adds this new volume to the 
series in the sincere hope that it will find as 


8 


FOEEWORD 


large a welcome as that accorded to its predeces- 
sors. 

In the Telephone Industry a subject of un- 
usual appeal and human inspiration was given 
to him. It is doubtful if any chapter in the in- 
dustrial history of this nation is filled with more 
romantic achievement, or more genuine attain- 
ment for the public good. 

The author wishes to acknowledge in this 
connection the hearty assistance given him by 
the officials of the American Telephone and 
Telegraph Company in the technical data, 
necessary for the present volume, and the 
sympathetic collaboration which they furnished 
at all times. 


Hugh C. Weir. 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

I. Bucking the Big Town 

• 

« 

ft 

PAGE 

11 

II. 

An Emergency Call 

• 

ft 

ft 

32 

III. 

A Baffling Problem 

• 

ft 

ft 

55 

IV. 

The Man in the Brown Hat 

• 

ft 

ft 

73 

V. 

A Sinister Warning 

0 

ft 

ft 

82 

VI. 

In the Coils ; 

ft 

t 

ft 

104 

VII. 

The Third Degree . 

ft 

ft 


123 

VIII. 

The Struggles of the Young Inventor 


145 

IX. 

A Crushing Blow 

ft 

• 


157 

X. 

An Amazing Voyage 

ft 

ft 

• 

175 

XI. 

The Dictaphone 

• 

ft 

ft 

192 

XII. 

Telephone Adventures . 

ft 

ft 

ft 

210 

XIII. 

Winning With the Wire 

o 

ft 

ft 

222 

XIV. 

The Great Flood . « 

e 

ft 

ft 

236 

XV. 

Success at Last 


t 

ft 

251 


9 



The Young Telephone Inventor 


CHAPTER I 

Bucking the Big Town 
/^NE side, there I 

A clatter of hoofs rang out, like a charge 
of cavalry. The warning cry came not a mo- 
ment too soon. A tall agile young fellow 
turned quickly to find four powerful horses 
almost upon him. Stooping to grasp a heavy 
suit case, he dodged nimbly out of danger. 

The thunder of hoofs was beaten back by the 
walls of the long wooden tunnel of a ferry-boat. 
In a moment several guards had sprung to the 
horses' heads, and jerked them to a standstill. 
The crowd, which had scurried away from the 
prancing hoofs, now began to press forward. 

Caught in this strong tide, the youth with the 
11 


12 THE YOtJNO TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

suit case was hustled forward until he found 
himself stopped by an iron gate, stretched across 
the deck. 

From the eager, watchful expression of his 
face, it was clear the scene was new to him. 
His heavy suit case suggested the traveller. 

Across one end was lettered the name, 
Horace Bromley, and just below, the address 
Willsby, Ohio. And one would have been 
right in guessing that the suit case held all of 
his worldly goods. 

A heavy fog hung over the broad river, 
shutting out the opposite shore. As the ferry- 
boat now neared its slip the forms of buildings, 
enormously tall, began to take shape. By 
twisting his head far back Horace could almost 
see their roofs, which were literally lost among 
the low clouds. 

“ So this is New York I he said half 
aloud. 

His most fantastic dream of the metropolis 
had fallen short of this early morning glimpse 
through the fog. Every second some new mar- 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


13 


vel was unfolded. He involuntarily squared 
his shoulders. After so many years of an- 
ticipation here he was, at last, face to face 
with the great city, where fortune or failure 
awaited him. 

A clanking of chains told that the ferry-boat 
was made fast to its slip. Instantly the dense 
crowd was in rapid motion. Clinging to his 
suit case, Horace was hurried along through a 
long shed-like structure. The roar of the city 
already filled the air. 

** Where is Broadway ? he inquired of a 
man at his elbow. 

The person addressed probably heard only 
the first word. By the time the third word was 
out, he was beyond hearing. The last word 
however reached a second man who had not 
heard the beginning of the sentence. 

‘'Broadway?’^ he repeated hurriedly. ‘^Straight 
ahead.” And he dashed forward. 

It was the first word spoken to the boy in 
New York. Horace rather enjoyed the hurry 
and rush about him. Even if one person 


14 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOK 


hadn’t time to answer him there had been 
another, it seemed, on hand to help him 
out. Later he was to find this very char- 
acteristic of the great city. He felt proud 
to think that at last he was a part of the busy 
throng. 

Taxi I Taxi I Taxi I 

** Baggage checked I Baggage checked I ” 

“ Carry your bag, sir ? 

** Hotels this way ! 

A dozen people seemed to be trying to get his 
attention. Horace pushed his way through 
this advance guard, and started briskly across 
the widest street he had ever seen. There were 
hundreds of wagons and automobiles of every 
kind on every side darting about with bewilder- 
ing swiftness. 

Suddenly just before him a tall policeman 
raised his hand with a gesture of authority. 
The boy stopped instantly, wondering why the 
officer should be looking at him. It was only 
by chance, however, that the bluecoat had 
caught his eye. The gesture had been seen by 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


15 


scores of drivers and chauffeurs who lost no time 
in bringing their vehicles to a standstill. A 
narrow lane was now cleared between the 
vehicles through which the crowd walked 
safely to the pavement opposite. 

A walk of a few minutes brought Horace to 
Broadway. Although it was the first time he 
had ever seen the famous thoroughfare, he felt 
strangely at home. He had studied so many 
pictures of the street from end to end that he 
knew many of its famous skyscrapers. And 
the ** movies had often shown him exactly 
how the crowds looked. 

His destination was the tallest building in 
the world. It was there he hoped to find a 
familiar face. He had come to New York 
with little money and perhaps no friend. 

One day, a year before, an elegant automobile, 
with a liveried chauffeur and footman, had 
chanced to break down just before his home 
in the small Ohio town. The boy^s mechanical 
skill and willingness had set things right in a 
few minutes, and the owner of the car had 


16 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

talked to him for a moment of life in the great 
city. 

** Ever thought of going to New York ? ” the 
gentleman had asked. 

Well, yes, sir,^^ Horace had replied. I 
would like to try my luck there.'^ 

‘‘ Any business in particular ? 

** Well, I'm pretty good at mechanics," and 
then he hesitated. I have an invention I 
would like to try some day." 

An invention ? What sort ? " 

** To improve the telephone, sir," Horace ex- 
plained. “ It works very well on the local 
lines, and I hope in some way to explain it to 
the big managers." 

** Well, well I You never can tell I " the 
motorist replied. ** Not in my line, but if you 
come to New York, look me up. My name is 
Rockwell. Good luck to you." 

The great touring car rolled smoothly away. 
The words of encouragement had fired Horace 
with a new ambition. The name of Rockwell 
was famous wherever newspapers were read. 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


17 


There were few richer men in the country than 
R. C. Rockwell. The boy hurried home to his 
mother with the good news. 

** Well, don't be disappointed," was all she 
would say. 

" But, mother, don't you see, a word from 
this great millionaire would make my fortune. 
He could introduce me to the right people. It 
will be a wonderful opportunity." 

" I hope for your sake it will be all right," his 
mother conceded. 

" Why, it's sure to be," Horace replied ex- 
citedly. 

" You may find the rich man very different 
when you see him in New York," said Mrs. 
Bromley. " And I hate to have you build on 
such a frail foundation." 

From that day Horace had never forgotten 
the promise. He had labored day and night 
on his new invention until he thought it was 
practically perfect, and, having saved a few 
dollars, he had started at last for New York. 
In a few minutes he told himself he would see 


18 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


the great Rockwell, and his fortunes might date 
from that hour. 

It was a very simple matter to find the tallest 
building in the world. Its lofty spire glisten- 
ing in the sunlight rose high above all other 
buildings. Horace marvelled at its graceful 
lines and the wonderful richness of its carvings 
and decorations. 

In a few minutes he found himself in a great 
arched stone room which opened directly off the 
street. About the walls were beautiful paint- 
ings. The carvings might have graced some 
great cathedral. Somewhat awed by the strange 
sight Horace looked about for some one to ask 
about Mr. Rockwell. 

Every one seemed to be in such a hurry that 
he hesitated to bother them by asking a ques- 
tion. In the crowd he at once noticed a par- 
ticularly brilliant figure, and paused to watch 
him. The man was dressed in what appeared 
to be a uniform with gold braid and buttons, 
and Horace decided that he must be some 
officer, or a bandmaster at the very least. To 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


19 


his surprise the elegant figure now walked 
directly towards him. 

Looking for any one, young man ? '' he 
asked pleasantly. 

^‘Why, I don^t want to trouble you, sir.’' 
Horace was somewhat confused before this im- 
pressive figure. 

** No trouble. That’s what I’m here for,” the 
man of gold braid explained. 

Horace began to understand. Across the cap 
the official wore, as he now saw, the word 
** Attendant.” He was talking to one of the 
elevator men. 

‘‘I am looking for Mr. R. C. Rockwell,” 
Horace said, gathering courage. 

“ Certainly. Room 4236. Take the express.” 

“ But I just now got off the express,” Horace 
began to explain, bewildered by the unfamiliar 
expression. 

Express elevator, I mean,” said the attendant 
pleasantly. ‘‘ First stop thirty-fifth floor. Mr. 
Rockwell’s suite in on the forty-second floor.” 

Horace entered the express elevator, and 


20 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


looked about him. It was a marvellous little 
room all silver and gold with long mirrors at 
the sides. 

“ Thirty-fifth, first stop. Right I called the 
attendant and the ornate little room suddenly 
shot upward. 

The elevator fiashed past the fioors exactly as 
an express train rushes by local stations. It 
travelled so smoothly and swiftly that the forty- 
second fioor was reached in a few seconds. 

Horace found long corridors lined with doors, 
each bearing the name of R. C. Rockwell, Banker. 
The suite evidently covered the entire fioor. The 
boy already began to feel somewhat abashed. 
After walking perhaps a quarter of a mile up 
and down long corridors, he finally came upon a 
door marked “ Entrance,^^ and pushed it open. 

The room into which it opened was much 
finer than the finest parlor Horace had ever 
seen. It was furnished with many luxurious 
leather unholstered chairs and lounges, and his 
feet sank deep into thick rugs. He looked 
about him expecting to find the great million- 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


21 


aire himself in so elegant an apartment, but the 
room was empty except for a boy, sitting behind 
a telephone switchboard. 

** Who do you wish to see ? ” 

** Is Mr. Rockwell in ? ** Horace faltered. 

Which one? 

^^Why, Mr. R.C. Rockwell.^' 

** Got an appointment with him? '' 

*^No. I^m just calling,” Horace explained 
somewhat embarrassed. 

The sharp looking office boy examined 
Horace critically. 

What business shall I tell him ? ” 

“ Just tell him that Horace Bromley is here,” 
Horace faltered, and he added as the boy walked 
away, *‘from Willsby, Ohio.” 

** 141 tell his secretary,” said the boy and dis- 
appeared. 

He was back in a moment and told Horace 
to take a seat. A long wait followed. At the 
end of ten minutes Horace crossed the room to 
the boy^s desk. 

Will Mr. Rockwell be out soon ? ” he asked. 


22 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


“ Guess so/^ the other replied briefly, but 
volunteered no further information. 

At the end of another ten minutes the inner 
door opened and a young man stepped to where 
Horace sat. 

Mr. Bromley ? he began. 

“ Are you Mr. Rockwell’s secretary ? ” Horace 
asked. 

** No, I am the second assistant secretary,” 
was the reply. “ What can I do for you ? ” 

“ I want to see Mr. Rockwell,” Horace ex- 
plained. 

“ Have you a business card ? ” 

** No,” faltered Horace. ** But I think he 
will remember me.” 

What business, may I ask ? ” 

** Well, it’s a personal matter,” Horace ex- 
plained. 

“ Mr. Rockwell only sees people by special 
appointment,” the secretary said rather curtly. 

** I am calling at Mr. Rockwell’s invitation,” 
Horace explained with dignity. ** Is there no 
way of reaching him ? ” 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


23 


The second assistant secretary was evidently 
not impressed by the caller. 

** You may fill out a blank card at the desk, 
stating your name and business, if you care to, 
and ITl see that it goes through the regular 
channel. 

“ And when will that reach him ? ” Horace 
asked. 

“ It will take about a week,^^ was the conde- 
scending reply. 

“ I’ll call again,” Horace replied stiffly and 
walked out of the office. 

He was indignant at the cool impudence of 
the office boy and the under clerk. He felt 
that he had been snubbed, to say the least. 
But when once aroused he was a very stubborn 
customer to deal with. On his way down in 
the elevator his future plan of attack was 
formed. 

On entering the building Horace had noticed 
long rows of telephone booths stretched along 
the corridors. There was nothing in the great 
building which interested him so much, unless 


24 : THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


it was the mechanical equipment of the tele- 
phones hidden somewhere behind them. The 
telephone had always been his hobby. Packed 
away in his suit case was the invention which 
he believed would make the telephone officials 
sit up and take notice. 

Horace entered one of the telephone booths, 
consulted the directory and dropped a nickel 
in the slot. A faint voice asked what number 
he wanted. Horace gave the number and 
waited a little nervously for the reply. 

This is R. C. RockwelPs office, an invisible 
voice answered. 

‘‘This is long distance,^^ Horace said hur- 
riedly, making his voice sound very crisp and 
businesslike. “ I want R. C. Rockwell. This 
is Bromley speaking.^^ 

“ One moment, please,^^ came over the ^phone 
in a very respectful tone. 

Horace was pitting his expert knowledge of 
the telephone against the barriers which the 
great millionaire had set up to protect himself. 
He thought that the trick of mentioning long 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


25 


distance would give him the inner line of com- 
munication. It was only a short time before a 
second voice answered him. 

Just a moment, if you please, it said very 
politely. 

Horace winked to himself. And then the 
same voice again : — 

“ Here is Mr. Rockwell.^' 

It was. Horace instantly recognized the 
smooth, well modulated tones of the gentleman 
in the automobile. 

** This is Rockwell speaking,^^ said the great 
man. 

** Mr. Rockwell,^’ Horace spoke quickly with 
a trained telephone voice, “ this is the boy 
who helped mend your car in Willsby, Ohio, 
last summer. I am in New York, and I want 
to see you for two minutes, no more.^^ 

“ My goodness, you donT say so I ** The 
reply was kind and jovial. I remember you 
perfectly. Well, well, of course I'll see you. 
Where and when ? " 

“I'm in your building now," Horace ex- 


26 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


plained. 1 can take my two minutes begin- 
ning about two minutes from now, if you will 
be so kind.” 

‘‘ Well, let me see,” said the voice. “ I have 
a board meeting right away, but I want to see 
you. Two minutes, you say? Make it now. 
1^11 put off the meeting and wait for you. 
Come right up I ” 

And now came the strangest part of this in- 
visible interview. Horace still held the tele- 
phone receiver to his ear. He always did so for 
a moment, to make quite sure he did not 
miss any possible last word. His practised ear 
caught the faint click as Mr. Rockwell hung up 
his private ^phone. An instant later another 
voice came over the wire. It was evidently a 
crossed wire. 

That you, Sam ? ” it said. 

The voice had a curious guarded accent 
which caught Horace^s attention. He knew 
from his expert knowledge of telephone connec- 
tions that he was still connected with the Rock- 
well central switchboard. The voice moreover 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


27 


sounded familiar, although he could not place 
it for the moment. 

I’m listening,” came the reply, which was 
also pitched very low. 

Positively at five o’clock, number 120, as 
usual.” This was the first voice again. ** You 
are on a public ’phone, I suppose? ” 

” Sure I It’s perfectly safe. Go ahead I ” 

” Take this down then.” And the voice 
called off the names of about a dozen addresses. 

Horace would have scorned to listen to an}^ 
private conversation. The honor of telephone 
men is very high in this respect. But his 
suspicions had been aroused by the curious 
secret manner of the speakers, and he was 
puzzled over the strangely familiar voice. As 
the addresses were called off he quickly jotted 
them down. 

** No suspicion, eh ? ” The voice was almost 
a whisper. 

** No, of course not ! It’s perfectly safe, I tell 
you,” and the speaker rang off. 

Horace opened the door of Mr. Rockwell’s 


28 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

office ninety seconds later. The same office boy 
looked up coolly, and then went on with some 
writing. 

** I have an appointment with Mr. Rockwell,” 
Horace said. 

The boy grinned incredulously. After finish- 
ing his work, a matter of perhaps a minute, he 
rose, and in a very leisurely way strolled out 
of the office. Several minutes later he returned 
with the second assistant secretary. 

** As I told you, young man,” the clerk 
snapped, ** it is quite out of the question for 
you to reach Mr. Rockwell to-day.” 

Horace gasped with astonishment. It was 
the voice of this assistant secretary he had just 
overheard over the ^phone. He quickly con- 
trolled himself, and forced all expression from 
his face. 

“ Will you kindly announce me to Mr. Rock- 
well ? ” he said. 

** Mr. Rockwell cannot be disturbed,” the 
young man replied insolently. 

There was an unexpected interruption. An 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


29 


inner door opened hurriedly, and Mr. Rock- 
well, himself, appeared. He came forward 
quickly, grasping Horace^s hand in a friendly 
shake. 

** Glad to see you again,” he exclaimed 
heartily. ** Come right in,” and he led the way 
past the abashed clerk, whose face had suddenly 
grown very red. 

Horace found himself in the most impressive 
room he had ever seen. The walls were hung 
with rich curtains. A bright fire blazed in a 
wonderful marble fireplace. The furniture was 
richly carved. But in contrast to all this 
magnificence, Mr. Rockwell was as simple and 
friendly as any man Horace had ever met. 

YouTl excuse me, I hope?” Mr. Rockwell 
began. But just now I^m in a hurry. So 
tell me what I can do for you, and later we can 
meet and have a longer visit, when I can 
arrange it.” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Rockwell,” Horace replied. 
” I don^t want to presume on your time or good 
nature. You may not remember, but I have a 


30 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


telephone invention and all I want is a chance 
to show it to the right people. If it is not 
asking too much, will you advise me? That 
would mean a great deal to me. I wouldn’t 
think of troubling you further.” 

“ Certainly I Certainly 1 ” Mr. Rockwell broke 
in. Let me see. I’ll ask my secretary. I 
can fix that readily, and be glad to do it to pay 
you for your kindness last summer.” 

“ Thank you very much.” 

“ Not a word. See me again soon. I’m leav- 
ing the city to-day for a two or three days’ trip. 
Call on me next Monday.” 

Thank you very much.” Horace rose to gOo 

Mr. Rockwell in the most democratic way 
rose to show Horace to the outer door. 

As they passed through the reception room, 
Horace was amused to see that the office boy 
and the secretary watched him narrowly. 
Looking out of the corner of his eye, he caught 
a glance of intelligence pass between them. 
They were evidently on very intimate terms. 

“ Good-day,” said Mr. Rockwell heartily. 


BUCKING THE BIG TOWN 


31 


Tm glad you called/^ And he returned to 
his office. 

As Horace opened the door, he stole a look 
at the secretary. The other was watching him 
with an angry stare. 

I think I have rather the best of you,'^ 
Horace thought. **And in more ways than 
one.’^ 

The surprising events of the next few days 
were to prove that he was right in his surmise. 


CHAPTER II 


An Emekgency Call 
S Horace emerged from the great gilded 



doorway which opened on to Broadway 
he found the roar of traffic bewildering. He 
stood for several minutes watching the thou- 
sands of tense faces hurrying past him, and the 
continuous lines of vehicles. He felt that he 
was now face to face with the great busy city, 
and that he must stand or fall in the encounter. 

It seemed at first glance a very unequal en- 
counter. On the one hand the city was so big 
and busy, while the boy who had come to fight 
his way to a right to live there had almost every 
odd against him. Without capital or experience 
it might prove a very up-hill fight for him. 
But Horace was made of the stuff which 
succeeds. 

Although greatly impressed by Broadway, he 
was not in the least discouraged. In the half 


32 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


33 


hour since he had landed on Manhattan Island 
he reflected he had certainly made excellent 
progress. 

Safely hidden in an inside pocket, he carried 
nearly flfty dollars, which must serve him until 
he found himself a wage earner. It seemed to 
him a safe margin. 

Long before he had made the break and 
started for New York, he had mapped out a 
fairly deflnite campaign. He had heard that 
Brooklyn was much cheaper than Manhattan, 
and therefore was the place for him. A friend 
who had made the experiment some years be- 
fore had given Horace some excellent advice. 

** All you need is a room,” he had explained. 

This care-free way of living appealed to 
Horace. He could not tell as yet where his 
work might carry him, and he had looked for- 
ward with delight to sampling all kinds of 
restaurants, especially in the quaint and un- 
usual foreign sections of New York. There 
was no telling into what delightful adventures 
the search might lead him. 


34 THE- YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


The first problem, therefore, was to find a 
room in Brooklyn. Horace had spent many 
hours in studying the geography of the Island 
City. On one side of Manhattan Island lay the 
Hudson, and on the other the East River. All 
he need do was to cross the island, and then 
cross the East River, he reflected, and he would 
be in Brooklyn. 

In planning this little journey, Horace had 
always begun by getting the points of the com- 
pass firmly fixed in his mind. The old lane 
which led to his home ran straight north and 
south. 

Often he had stood in the lane, facing north, 
and roughly sketched the route he was to take. 
He was sure he would make no mistake. He 
now turned facing up Broadway and rehearsed 
his plan. 

Now I^m looking north,^^ he reasoned, so 
my right hand must point to Brooklyn. 

Without a moment’s delay he started briskly 
off, in what he judged to be the shortest possible 
way to Brooklyn. The busy street he now found 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


36 


himself in seemed to slant somewhat, but he de- 
cided he was moving in the right direction, and 
pushed on. 

For the first time he began to look curiously 
about him. Most boys on their first visit to 
New York would have been more impressed by 
the skyscrapers, but Horace was a boy with a 
hobby. The great city held nothing so fascina- 
ting for him as its telephones. 

He had read everything which came to hand 
about the intricate system of wires which en- 
ables millions of people to talk so easily to one 
another. 

In every city or town he had ever visited, 
these wires were festooned along the streets or 
above the sky-lines. But look as he might there 
was not a single wire to be seen in New York 
City. He glanced up a number of cross streets, 
but everywhere it was the same. And then 
suddenly an article he had once read flashed in 
his mind explaining it all. 

Some years before. New York streets had 
been a maze of telephone and telegraph wires. 


36 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


They hung before the buildings much the same 
as the wire entanglements before the European 
war trenches. 

Several great fires occurred when the firemen 
could not set up their ladders or carry their 
hose because of these entanglements. The 
mayor of the city finally ordered that the wires 
be placed under ground. 

It was a great undertaking, involving mil- 
lions of dollars of expense, and delays followed. 
Finally a day was set when the wires must come 
down. The day arrived, and still the tens of 
thousands of wires festooned the streets. 

The wires must come down,” declared the 
Mayor, or I’ll have them chopped down.” 

Still the wires hung undisturbed. On the 
fixed day, however, the Mayor was as good as 
his word. A band of men started out with axes 
and began to chop down the poles, and the 
wires came down with a crash. From that 
hour the work of removal began in earnest, 
and that is why Horace looked in vain for a 
single telephone wire against the sky. 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


37 


The street Horace was following suddenly 
grew narrower and meaner. An elevated rail- 
road crashed overhead, filling the street with 
noise and shutting out most of the daylight. 
A street sign announced that its name had now 
changed and Horace realized that he was on the 
famous “ Bowery.'^ Everything was very dark 
and dingy, and Horace hurried on to leave it as 
soon as possible. 

He had been walking for some time when a 
broader and cleaner street opened out, which 
seemed to extend endlessly on ahead. Evi- 
dently the East River must be a long way off. 
Horace stopped a passer-by who looked like one of 
the pictures of an old-fashioned Bowery Boy.^^ 
How can I get to Brooklyn ? ” he asked 
politely. 

** Well, sonny,” said the stranger, ” there^s 
two ways. You can take the subway, or follow 
your nose.” 

** Which would you advise ? ” Horace asked 
pleasantly. 

** I wouldn^t advise anybody to go to 


38 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

Brooklyn/' The stranger was something of 
a humorist in his way. But as man to man 
I don't mind tollin' yer the subway is the 
quickest." 

But I'm not in a hurry," Horace explained. 

“ Then you'd better follow yer nose," was the 
reply. ** It looks straight enough." 

“ Thanks, I will." Horace nodded and 
walked on. 

It proved to be a very long walk. Horace 
decided that he would find some easier and 
quicker route in future. At last, however, he 
came to a broad body of water which he 
thought must be the East River, and in time 
ran across a ferry house labelled Brooklyn." 

Even the ferry-boat failed to cross the river 
directly but struck across in a long slanting 
line. When Horace finally landed in Brooklyn, 
he was many miles up-town. The suit case he 
had carried so far had grown extremely heavy, 
and Horace lost no time in finding a resting 
place. Over the door of a substantial brick 
house he noticed a promising sign. 


AN EMEEGENCY CALL 


39 


** Rooms to let/' it read. 

Horace rang the bell. A pleasant woman 
with a strong German accent opened the door. 

Tm looking for a room/' he began. 

Any reference ? " 

Will this be good enough ? " Horace asked, 
pulling out a twenty dollar bill. 

Dot is goot," the landlady smiled. 

The room was soon selected, and a week's 
board paid in advance. 

** Is there a restaurant in the neighborhood ? " 
Horace inquired. 

Jar, a good von," was the reply. Dienken- 
speils, right next door." 

“ Thank you. And what is the address of 
your house? " 

Vite Street, 285." 

Horace asked his landlady to repeat the 
street and wrote down the name, as it was pro- 
nounced, with a V. 

Now that he was established, Horace started 
out at once to return to New York. He decided he 
would explore some new country, and instead of 


40 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


crossing the ferry he walked away in the general 
direction, as he supposed, from lower New York. 

New York, he had heard, was a city of 
magnificent distances. The streets seemed end- 
less. Later when he studied out the round- 
about wanderings of his first day in New York, 
he found that he had walked nearly two hun- 
dred city blocks. 

In the course of time, a great deal of time, 
Horace came to another ferry which he rightly 
judged would take him to the heart of the 
business section of New York. By this time 
the geography of the endless tangle of streets 
had grown very confusing. Horace wondered 
how he would ever find his way back. He con- 
sulted a policeman at the next corner. 

** WhaPs the shortest way to Vite Street? he 
asked. 

** What street ? ” 

“ Vite Street.^' 

** Never heard of it.'^ 

IPs a broad street, several miles long, I 
should judge,^^ Horace explained. 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


41 


** Search me.'" The policeman shook his head. 

** It lies several miles off in that direction.^’ 
Spell it.^' 

‘‘V-I-T-E. Vite Street.*^ 

The policeman consulted a pocket directory 
carefully without success. 

No such street/^ he said with finality and 
walked off. 

Horace was beginning to feel alarmed. His 
suit case with his precious invention had been 
entrusted to the care of a total stranger, who 
lived in a street no one had ever heard of. 
Once more, however, his ingenuity proved 
equal to the situation. 

He looked about until his eyes lighted on the 
familiar blue and white telephone sign, and 
here he found a telephone directory. He 
turned to the D^s and quickly located the 
Dienkenspeils. There was a score of them. 
There was but one, however, who kept a 
restaurant. As he read the short typed line, 
he suddenly laughed with amusement and re- 
lief. It was explicit. 


42 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

“ P. Dienkenspeil, restaurant. 287 White 
Street/^ it read. 

The German landlady was doubtless perfectly 
honest. His precious invention was safe. The 
only criticism was that she had not yet mastered 
the difficulties of English pronunciation. She 
could not pronounce a W. Horace lived at 
285 White Street, Brooklyn. 

Horace soon found himself once more among 
the deep canons of lower Manhattan Island, 
miscalled streets. They were scarcely so wide 
as the lane which led from the road to his 
home, while on both sides great buildings 
sprang up for twenty, thirty, even forty stories. 

He remembered reading that if all the people 
in these great hive-like office buildings were to 
leave them at the same time, they would be 
crushed to death. Standing closely packed to- 
gether, they would form five layers of humanity. 

Suddenly a loud gong drowned every other 
noise. At this deafening clanging the roar of 
the traffic ceased. Several policemen instantly 
appeared as if by magic, and at a signal the 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


43 


dense tide of travel divided, leaving an open 
lane down the street. 

Horace pressed forward to the curb to watch. 
Down this open lane he saw a team of prancing 
horses, galloping before a shining fire engine. 
Darting forward with the speed of an express 
train, a low motor truck soon came into sight 
with several men in an unfamiliar blue uni- 
form. 

The truck stopped with a jerk and the men 
sprang off with the alacrity of cats. Horace 
was puzzled. The automobile could not be an 
ambulance. The single word Emergency in 
small letters on the side gave him no clue. 

In an instant, without the loss of a second’s 
time, the men dashed to a round metal plate 
in the street, and tore it open. A narrow 
steel ladder could be seen, leading downward 
from the pavement. Horace pressed forward 
and looked down. To the crowd about him all 
that could be seen were many rows of metal 
knobs, but to Horace’s experienced eye the 
situation was at once made clear. 


44 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


'*One side I One side I” several policemen 
were shouting. 

A clear space was soon made about the hole. 
Horace managed to keep his place in the front 
rank of the crowd. In a few moments there 
was a dense block of traffic in both directions. 

The opening in the street was much more 
interesting to Horace than any fire. The men 
working with feverish haste were emergency 
men, called out to struggle with a sudden ac- 
cident to the great system of telephone wires. 

The emergency wagon with its trained crew 
is kept in instant readiness to respond to just 
such calls. When an accident occurs to the 
great trunk lines in the heart of the city tens 
of thousands of people may be said to find 
themselves speechless. Great business interests 
on which may depend millions of dollars are 
suddenly arrested. Thousands of dollars are 
spent in maintaining such a patrol so that when 
an accident happens a few minutes of priceless 
time may be saved. 

** WhaPs the matter?^' Several people put 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


45 


the question to the crowd in the hope of finding 
some knowing one. 

“ It^s an accident to the telephone wires/’ 
Horace explained. 

** Anything serious ? ” 

** I should say that several connections had 
been destroyed/’ Horace said. 

** Will it take long to mend them ?” some one 
asked. The crowd seemed to consider Horace 
an expert. 

There’s a lot of work to be done,” Horace 
explained. “ Hundreds of wire connections 
must be made and tested.” 

He was amused to find the crowd about him 
listening so attentively to his opinion. 

** How long will it take ? ” a distinguished 
looking gentleman asked Horace with def- 
erence. 

** Several hours with the force they have on it 
now.” 

The men who had disappeared down the hole 
now climbed hastily out and consulted with the 
foreman. Still working at top speed, the men 


46 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


took a supply of fresh wire from the wagon, 
with many tools, and attacked the work. 

Meanwhile in thousands of offices for many 
miles about men were shouting impatiently 
into their telephones, which had suddenly 

gone dead.^^ The workmen knew the con- 
fusion which would result from such an acci- 
dent and strained every nerve to make the 
repairs. 

“ Send in another emergency call,’^ the fore- 
man now shouted to his men. 

A man hurried away for reinforcements. 

'‘The worst of the year,” Horace overheard 
the foreman saying. 

In a few moments a great maze of wires was 
spread about the opening of the hole. Horace 
found a coil of wire laying at his feet. Instinc- 
tively he stooped down and separated the wires, 
laying them out in better order. One of the 
workmen rushed forward. 

“ Hands off there,” he shouted. “ No one 
can touch those wires.” 

As he stooped over tJieni Jbe saw that the 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


47 


work had been done by a skillful hand. The 
foreman, attracted by his shout, rushed to the 
spot. 

“Who did that?^^ The foreman turned to 
the crowd. 

“ I did. I’m sorry if I interfered,” Horace 
explained apologetically. 

“ Why did you do it?” the foreman insisted. 
He seemed angry and excited. 

“ I merely straightened the wires out,” 
Horace explained. “ I meant no harm.” 

“ Are you a telephone man ? ” he insisted. 

“ Why, hardly,” Horace faltered. “ I am 
interested in the work.” 

“ I ask because I see you are skillful in 
handling wires,” the foreman explained hur- 
riedly. “Do you want to help us? We need 
more hands badly.” 

“ I shall be very glad to help you,” Horace 
replied readily. 

“ Well, jump in.” 

Horace stepped from the crowd and began 
straightening the wires. In a few moments he 


48 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


found himself working side by side with the 
experienced operators. 

“ IPs a bad break/^ one of the men said to 
Horace, but without stopping his work for a 
moment. “ Trouble is we are awfully short 
handed. Ought to have twice the force.^' 

Horace lost no time in asking questions, but 
with nimble fingers separated and spliced the 
wires as if his life depended upon it. The fore- 
man kept an eye upon him, but did not again 
address him. 

Since most of the telephone wires were down, 
there was considerable delay in getting more 
help. It was fully half an hour before the in- 
spector of the district arrived. He glanced with 
an experienced eye at the havoc, and the work 
which was now progressing rapidly. 

“ Who is that man out of uniform ? ” he asked 
the foreman. 

“ A new hand, sir,'' the foreman explained. 

He was standing in the crowd and I pressed 
him into service." 

For another half hour Horace worked with 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


49 


the rest like a beaver. The repairs began to 
near completion. Only a few skillful hands 
were now required and Horace, with most of 
the workmen, stepped aside. 

What^s your name ? ” The inspector touched 
him on the shoulder. 

Horace told him. 

You have done us a good turn, young man,^’ 
he went on. “ IVe been looking at the work 
you did. You are all right. I'll be glad to pay 
you for your services. Here's my card. My 
name is Sutton. Come see me later in the day." 

** Thank you very much." Horace was rather 
embarrassed. “ But I have enjoyed doing it. 
I don't want pay for a little thing like that." 

The inspector looked at Horace curiously. 

‘‘ Been in New York long? " he asked. 

** About three hours, sir." 

** I thought so," said the inspector. By the 
time you have been here a day you will change 
your mind and take all you can get. But I 
like your spirit. Come see me anyway." 

Horace thanked him and took his card. A 


50 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


few minutes later the men packed their tools on 
the emergency wagon and hurried away. 

Horace was naturally elated. He might have 
hung about the offices of the telephone offices 
for weeks without making such progress. The 
great city was not so unfriendly a place as he 
had been led to believe. He continued his 
walk up-town in high spirits. 

If Horace had met with unusual success in 
the first few hours of his life in New York, he 
had, however, incurred some equally unexpected 
dangers. 

Several hours passed uneventfully. Horace 
continued his walk about the city, enjoying 
many strange sights. The great office buildings 
particularly interested him. He explored the 
marble halls and the complicated machinery 
on every hand for carrying on the business of 
the metropolis. It was while wandering at 
random in one of the most magnificent of these 
buildings that he chanced upon his third ad- 
venture which was to prove by far the most 
important of the day. 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


51 


In the excitement of his first day in New 
York, Horace had thought very little of the 
mysterious telephone conversation he had over- 
heard in Mr. RockwelLs office. On entering 
the palatial building he was now exploring an 
elaborate gold sign over the portal had just re- 
called the incident to him. The building was 
number 120. There were hundreds of build- 
ings, as he knew, in the city numbered 120, and 
he would have thought little of that, if it had 
not chanced just then that a clock near by 
struck the hour of five. The double coincidence 
made him dwell for a moment on the mystery. 

There may be nothing in it at all,’^ he 
reflected. 

At the next turn of the corridor, Horace 
caught sight of a long row of telephone booths, 
and turned to examine them. He was mar- 
velling at the completeness of the arrangement 
when a man brushed past him, whose profile 
seemed familiar. It was so unusual to see any 
one he knew in the great crowds of strangers 
that Horace followed for a few steps. When 


52 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


the man turned, he recognized Mr. RockwelPs 
assistant secretary. 

The curious coincidence of the number of the 
building and the hour was, to say the least, 
suspicious. Horace thought he was justified in 
shadowing him. Following the secretary cau- 
tiously, Horace saw him loiter about for several 
minutes when he met another youth, and was 
instantly in deep conversation. 

The pair stood near the end of the row of 
telephone booths. Horace was on familiar 
ground. He could not have found a better 
ambush. By walking close to the doors of the 
booths he succeeded in reaching one of the little 
compartments without attracting the attention 
of the two. He now found himself within a 
few inches of them and separated only by a 
very thin partition. The men were still quite 
unconscious that any one was near them. 

At first only a low mumbling came to 
Horace^s ears. He could catch only an oc- 
casional word which gave him no clue to what 
they were discussing. Gradually, however, both 


AN EMERGENCY CALL 


53 


seemed to grow excited, and their voices were 
raised to a pitch which penetrated the booth. 

“ There’s nothing to it, I tell you,” was the 
first intelligible sentence Horace heard. 

** It’s easy for you to talk,” the other inter- 
rupted. ** But what risk do you run ? ” 

“ There’s no risk, I’m telling you, none 
worth worrying about.” 

Haven’t their detectives been on the job for 
weeks ? ” 

I don’t care if they have. What can they 
find?” 

“ They’ve had men watching the best pay 
stations, haven’t they ? ” 

“ But they’d have to have hundreds of men 
to watch them all.” 

“ Well, they are on the job. And another 
thing, they have filled some of the money boxes 
with marked coins, so they can trace them.” 

** If you are getting cold feet, you can drop 
out now. No risk, no gain. Think of what 
there is in it.” 

The average man would have failed to catch 


U THE YOtiNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


the meaning of these random sentences, but to 
Horace the situation was perfectly clear. The 
men were evidently talking of the robbery of 
the money boxes into which one drops a coin 
to telephone. A great deal of money, as he 
knew, is deposited in these public boxes, and 
the telephone companies have great trouble in 
guarding them. 

The evidence was clear. And Horace had 
recognized one of the men and was reasonably 
certain that the voices were the same he had 
heard over the telephone. 

He waited for a moment to let the men get 
out of the way. His hand was on the door of 
the booth when the door was quickly opened, 
and he found himself face to face with the 
secretary from Mr. RockwelTs office. The two 
stared at one another for a moment, and then 
the clerk abruptly turned, and walked hur- 
riedly away. 


CHAPTER III 


A Baffling Pkoblem 

YEARLY next morning Horace shut up his 
folding bed and started out hopefully to 
face the adventures of another day. 

In less than twenty-four hours, he reflected, 
he had made two friends and as many enemies. 
At this rate his fortune, whether good or ill, 
must be determined very quickly. New York 
was certainly a lively place. 

With careful economy the money would keep 
him for several weeks. It seemed to him a 
much easier matter to find work than he had 
imagined, and, with this leeway, he could afford 
to wait for the kind of a position to turn up 
which would best suit him. 

It was clearly his duty to notify the tele- 
phone authorities or Mr. Rockwell of the plot 

he had chanced to overhear, and as he made 
65 


56 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

his way to New York his mind was busy with 
plans for doing this. 

The more he thought over the situation the 
more difficult, even dangerous, it appeared. 
Had Mr. Rockwell been in the city he would 
have gone directly to him with his story. 

Since he would be away for several days that 
door was closed. He knew no one else in the 
office to go to, and he knew that he could not 
get at any one in authority there if he tried. 
The office boy and the clerks of the outer office 
would see to that. 

The only plan therefore was to visit the 
central office of the telephone company. The 
inspector had invited him to call, and there 
should be no trouble in getting to him. Horace 
already realized that it is difficult, to say the 
least, for a stranger to reach the great men of 
affairs in New York. 

The telephone offices were located in one of 
the most palatial buildings in the lower busi- 
ness section of the city. The lobby was as im- 
posing as the pictures Horace had seen of a 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


57 


famous Roman palace. He approached a glit- 
tering functionary who stood before the battery 
of elevators. 

‘‘ Where will I find Mr. E. P. Sutton ? he 
asked. He had already lost all fear of these 
“ great men.^^ 

Suite 3489. Express, this way."' 

Horace knew about the express by this time 
and found his elevator as easily as any native. 

The entrance room to suite 3489 proved to be 
a large apartment crowded with people. When 
Horace’s turn came at the information desk he 
was asked to fill out a blank, stating whom he 
wished to see, and the nature of his business. 
The boy who carried the slip into the offices at 
the rear returned after a long wait. 

Mr. Sutton is out.” 

** Will he be back soon ? ” Horace inquired. 

“ He is a hard man to find,” the boy ex- 
plained. 

“ What are his office hours ? ” Horace was 
quickly learning the ways of city people. 

Hasn’t any,” was the brief reply. 


58 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

This is his office, isnT it ? 

“ Sure/' The boy had the busiest manner of 
any one Horace had met. 

** Well, he must be in some time," Horace 
insisted. 

“Out on emergency work." The boy was 
growing impatient. 

“ Oh, I see," said Horace, 

“ Situation ? " 

“ I beg your pardon." 

“ Are you looking for work ? " 

“ I don’t see that that concerns you." Horace 
began to resent the high and mighty manner of 
the boy. 

“Third door to the right." The boy disap- 
peared. 

Horace could afford to smile at the boy's 
important manner. He had had some experi- 
ence in Mr. Rockwell's office with such types. 

In the hall outside a crowd of men were 
standing idly about. They were of all ages. A 
little way down the hall the crowd was much 
more dense. Horace soon noticed that a con- 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


69 


tinuous stream of people was passing in and 
out a particular doorway marked, Applica- 
tions.’^ 

Evidently the men were looking for employ- 
ment. Horace took his place in the line and 
after a considerable wait entered the room. 
After another long wait a clerk handed him an 
application blank which he scanned curiously. 

It asked a great many questions as to the 
kind of work the applicants sought, and their 
exact qualifications and experience. It seemed 
a very slow and uncertain way of finding em- 
ployment. Horace questioned the man next to 
him in the line. 

He found that there were many hundreds of 
applications for a few positions. Many of the 
men had called regularly for weeks without 
success. 

Horace had joined the line merely out of 
curiosity, and now turned to go. The long line 
of disappointed faces told him a new story of 
the difficulty of finding work. 

Horace had entered the building expecting to 


60 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

see something of the wonderful equipment he 
had read about, but the glass doors shut him 
out from even a glimpse. He was about to give 
up the quest for the day when some one caught 
him by the arm. 

Hello, comrade,^^ said a friendly voice. 
Horace turned to find one of the boys of the 
emergency gang he had worked beside on the 
previous day. 

“ Great luck I found you.^^ 

** I^m very glad to see you,^^ said Horace 
heartily. 

Been in the line there ? 

“I was just looking around.^' 

** DidnT get very far, did you? ” 

** I came to see Mr. Sutton, Horace explained. 
** He has been called out on an up-town 
job.^^ 

Perhaps you can tell me when heTl be 
in?” 

‘‘Sure, iPs easy when you know the ropes. 
Come in any morning early — say about seven- 
thirty, and you^ll find him all right.” 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


61 


I'm very much obliged to you, I'm sure," 
said Horace. 

''That's all right. Now that you are here, 
wouldn't you like to look about ? " 

" I should, very much indeed." 

" It just happens I have a little time off. By 
the way, my name is Rudlow, Jim Rudlow." 

" Mine is Horace Bromley." 

They shook hands again. 

" This way, old man." 

Horace decided in a very few minutes that he 
liked Rudlow very well. The two young men 
were about the same age. Both were good clean 
American types. 

The thought at once flashed through Horace's 
mind that here was a safe confidant to whom 
he might tell his discovery of the threatened 
robbery of the telephone booths. Several times 
he was on the point of doing so when something 
seemed to hold him back. 

There was no time to be lost in warning the 
telephone people of the plot. On the other 
hand, the information seemed too important 


62 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


to entrust to a chance acquaintance. Horace 
had not begun to realize that he was in any 
personal danger from delay. 

This is the greatest talk-shop in the world/^ 
Rudlow explained. 

He led the way to a long room where scores 
of operators sat before the long switchboards. 
Hundreds of busy fingers skillfully manipulated 
the plugs that made possible the marvellous 
system of communication by telephone which is 
one of the wonders of the world. 

“ It has been the work of years to systematize 
this/' Rudlow explained. Every second is 
saved. The girls you see never speak an un- 
necessary word. 

Fortunes have been spent to cut down the 
time of making a connection in a few seconds. 
It's hard to see how the system can be im- 
proved." 

“ I would like to get a glimpse behind the 
scenes, if it's convenient," Horace suggested. 

That's a good idea," Rudlow agreed. 

Horace was soon watching with delight the 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


63 


wonderful system of wires running from the 
complicated switchboards to the dynamos which 
animated the wonderful machine. To the av- 
erage layman these seemed a hopeless tangle, 
but Horace, although he had seen only the 
telephone central of a small town, was quick to 
grasp its meaning. 

** Some wire entanglement?^^ Rudlow laughed. 

** I think it the most wonderful sight I ever 
saw in my life,^^ said Horace with enthusiasm. 

** I see you are good at it. Where did you 
learn the trade ? Rudlow asked. 

^‘Oh, I just picked it up,^^ said Horace 
modestly. 

IPs a funny thing,^^ Rudlow explained. 
** But we fellows who see this every day, and 
think we know it all, often overlook things 
which an outsider, like you for instance, will 
pick out at a glance. 

** We have experts here who spend their time 
experimenting, trying to improve the mecha- 
nism and the system, but sometimes a newcomer 
butts in and solves the problem offhand.^' 


64 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

Is there money in the telephone business ? 
Horace inquired. 

“ Well, there is not much for the average 
workmen. Good wages, and good treatment, 
though. IPs the men higher up who get the 
big salaries. Why, some of the men who hold 
the patents have made millions.^' 

“ This is wonderfully interesting,’^ Horace 
said thoughtfully, but I am afraid I am taking 
up a good deal of your time.” 

“ Oh, it’s a pleasure to show some one about 
who takes an intelligent interest.” 

** I wonder if you can tell me anything about 
the invention of the telephone ? ” asked Horace 
after a pause. 

Rudlow’s face lighted eagerly. “ Can I tell 
you ? You have struck my hobby. I think it 
is one of the most fascinating stories I have 
ever heard. Let’s see — where shall I begin? 
Of course, you know the inventor of the tele- 
phone was Alexander Graham Bell, an in- 
structor in Boston University. His official 
title was ' Professor of Vocal Physiology.’ 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


66 


“ The salary attached to the office was just 
five hundred dollars a year. 

“ BelPs specialty was visible speech, or the 
teaching of deaf-mutes to talk. 

“ His father, Alexander Melville Bell, was an 
elocutionist and a teacher of rhetoric. He had 
served in the Universities of Edinburgh, of 
Dublin and of London. 

This young man was a dreamer from 
Dreaming Town. He could watch words, and 
tell you their shape and tint. He could see 
them travel, tell you their rate of speed, and 
where they went. 

** Key, pitch, tone, modulation — these were 
his playthings. Why were no two voices alike? 
Alexander Graham Bell, tall, pale, serious, 
could tell you why, if you had nothing else to 
do but listen. 

Voice, he argued, was a purely mechanical 
proposition, and having taken the stand, he set 
out to prove it. 

In Boston, at odd hours, he had private 
pupils, deaf-mutes, that he was endeavoring to 


66 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

make forget the finger alphabet, and catch the 
words without ever muffling one. 

“ Among his pupils was a boy by the name 
of George Sanders. 

The Sanders family lived in Salem, sixteen 
miles from Boston. The business of Sanders 
was to cut soles out of leather for shoes. He 
was a hustling business man who needed all of 
his capital. 

By way of reciprocity, Bell was invited to 
make his home with the Sanders family in 
Salem, and teach George visible speech for 
board and keep. 

** This he did, and he also used the cellar of 
the Sanders home as a workshop. 

He littered the place with tuning-forks, 
magnets, batteries, coils of wire, tin cans, cigar- 
boxes, and strange chemicals. 

He had a string stretched from the cellar to 
the roof. Each end of the string (for all strings 
have two ends) was attached to the inside of a 
tin can. Sanders was ordered to go up on the 
roof and talk down to the boarder in the cellar. 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


67. 


This was an old and interesting experiment 
which boys innumerable had tried. It was a 
talking string. 

“ All you had to do was talk into the tin can 
and your voice would carry over the string for 
a distance of several hundred feet. This was 
the germ of the telephone. 

“ To replace the string with wire, and render 
the wire sensitive with the aid of an electric 
battery, was an easy step — after you knew how. 

Besides George Sanders, the young professor 
had another interesting pupil, Mabel Hubbard 
by name. When Mabel first came under the 
care of Professor Bell she was fifteen years old. 
This was in 1874. 

Mabel Hubbard was the daughter of 
Gardiner G. Hubbard of Boston, an attorney, 
writer, economist, and all-round man of affairs. 

“ Mabel Hubbard was a deaf-mute, and she 
was BelPs best and brightest pupil. He used to 
tell her of his wonderful invention by means 
of words which she never heard. 

The inevitable followed. 


68 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


“ Gardiner Hubbard had great respect for the 
young instructor in vocal gymnastics, but did 
not have any confidence in his inventive genius. 
That is where he differed from his daughter. 

One day Bell said to Hubbard, ' If I sing 
the note A close to the strings of the piano, the 
A string will answer me by vibrating.^ 

“ ‘ Well, what of it? ^ asked Hubbard. 

“ ‘ It is an evidence,^ said Bell, ‘ that some 
day we will have a vocal telegraph. If I can 
project my voice over musical strings and these 
strings will reply, why canT I send my voice 
over wires ? ^ 

“ And Hubbard laughed. But Bell followed 
this up with another proposition, ‘ If I can 
make your daughter talk, I can make metals 
talk, too.^ 

And Hubbard sneezed. 

Nevertheless, on February 14, 1876, there 
was issued to Alexander Graham Bell from the 
Patent Office in Washington the most im- 
portant patent ever issued by the United States 
Government. 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


69 


** In this patent the word ‘ Telephone * is not 
used. That came later. That was the coinage 
of Gardiner G. Hubbard. 

“ Sanders had put up the money to secure 
the patent, and had also grubstaked Bell for 
two years, for which Bell gave him a quarter 
interest in the invention. 

** A stock company was formed, with a capital 
of one hundred thousand dollars. The owners 
of this stock were Bell, Hubbard and Sanders. 

“ It was playfully understood between the 
Hubbard family and Bell that, if the telephone 
was a success, Mabel Hubbard was to become 
Mrs. Bell. 

“ And so it happened that one year after the 
granting of the patent, Alexander Graham Bell 
and Mabel Hubbard were married. Bell be- 
came one of the Hubbard family. 

Bell on his wedding day presented his bride 
with a certificate for all of his stock in the Bell 
Telephone Company. 

It would have been easy for the patent to 
have sunk out of sight. No matter how good a 


VO THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


thing is, the man who puts it before the people, 
educates the people to its use, and successfully 
launches it on the tide of the times — this man 
is quite as important as the inventor. 

“ Hubbard was a man of influence, with a 
wide acquaintanceship among business men, 
writers, politicians and teachers. He com- 
mitted himself to the telephone, heart, head 
and hand. 

Wherever he went, he carried with him a 
coil of wire and two telephones. This was be- 
fore the days of the receiver and the trans- 
mitter. You simply talked into a disk, about 
the size of a saucer, and then you inclined your 
head and listened for a reply. Sometimes you 
heard it and sometimes you didn’t. 

** If you didn’t, Hubbard always explained 
just why. 

He had a coil of flve hundred feet of piano- 
wire, with a telephone at each end. He strung 
this from one railroad car to another, and then 
talked over the line. 

‘‘ This was the identical invention exhibited 


A BAFFLING PROBLEM 


71 


at the Centennial, where, for two months, no 
one paid any attention to it. 

“ Even the wonderful and far-reaching patent 
that was given to Bell merely described the 
article as an * improvement in the art of tele- 
graphing.' 

Working with Bell was a young man by 
the name of Thomas A. Watson, who was a 
mechanic and an electrician. Watson was of 
immense help to Bell, and he was also a very 
important factor in enthusing Sanders and 
Hubbard, because Watson was a practical man, 
whereas Bell was spoken of as a college pro- 
fessor, and not much of a professor at that. 

“ Hubbard succeeded in collaring Dom Pedro, 
Emperor of Brazil, at the Centennial. And the 
Emperor, being an obliging gentleman, and 
with a turn of mind for the curious and pecul- 
iar, was greatly interested in the telephone ; or 
as it was then popularly called, the * talking- 
machine.' 

Anything that Dom Pedro talked about 
the newspapers picked up. And Gardiner G. 


Y2 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Hubbard succeeded in launching the entire 
newspaper press into talking of the talking- 
machine, simply because Dom Pedro declared 
it was the greatest invention of the age. 

“ Dom Pedro spoke of buying it out. And 
America sort of rubbed her sleepy eyes and got 
awake to the fact that there were possibilities in 
the ‘ talking-machine.^ '' 


CHAPTER IV 

The Man in the Brown Hat 

T3 UDLOW broke off his story as Horace 
drew a deep breath. 

‘‘ Some day, if you want to hear it, I’ll give 
you the story of more of Bell’s early struggles 
with the birth of the telephone, as they were 
given to me by his associate, Thomas Watson, 
himself. But I am afraid I have already talked 
your arm off.” 

** Not at all,” protested Horace quickly. 
** And I am going to hold you to your promise 
to tell me Mr. Watson^s story at your first op- 
portunity.” 

During the latter part of Rudlow’s narrative 
the two boys had entered a large, airy room, 
where the telephone operators sat before long 

desks, stacked with books. 

73 


74 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


‘‘ This is our information department/' Rud- 
low explained. 

‘'Just the place I want to see/' said Horace 
enthusiastically. 

“ Now, these girls have to know everything 
in the world, or at least in America, about 
telephone numbers and addresses. There is 
scarcely a person in all New York who has not 
asked questions of these young ladies. 

“ There are millions of such questions in the 
course of a year. Why, the public seems to 
think ‘ information ' knows everything. And 
what is more they must answer in a hurry. 

“ As the questions pile in, they are distributed 
here. Each girl you see has city directories 
and telephone directories at hand, so she can 
look up the question without losing an un- 
necessary second. 

“ And you never can tell what the question 
will be. Suppose you want to know the address 
of a particular drug store in San Francisco. 
You get it in a few seconds." 

“ Wonderful," said Horace. 


THE MAN IN THE BROWN HAT 75 

** It sure 

One more question/^ said Horace, ** if you 
donT mind? 

** Fire away/^ 

“Has the telephone company a detective de- 
partment? ” 

“ One of the very best/^ was the rejoinder. 

“ What do they do ? ” 

“ Well, one of the stunts is to go about and 
ring up on any old ^phone and hold the watch 
on the operator/' 

“ I don't believe I understand." 

“ Why, they ring up and ask for a number, 
you see, and then hold a stop watch in their 
hands, and find out to the second just how long 
it takes to get the connection." 

“ A check on the operators, isn't it? " 

“ Exactly." 

“ Anything else ? " 

“ Like every great business there is more or 
less detective work to be done here. One of the 
great problems is to guard the cash boxes of the 
pay 'phones." 


76 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

I'd like to hear about that." 

Well, a great fortune is dropped into these 
boxes. In the course of a year it amounts to 
millions of dollars." 

Really?" 

“ Then you see there are so many thousands 
of automatic pay stations that it is simply out 
of the question to watch them all." 

I see." 

“ A good deal of the work is automatic. The 
box is equipped with an electric connection 
which rings a bell if it's tampered with, and 
gives the alarm. 

Many a thief has been caught that way. 
He goes into a booth when there is nobody in 
sight and starts to pry open the money box. 
‘ Tingle a ling,' goes the bell in the office some- 
where near, and the thief is pounced on, and 
caught without the slightest warning." 

Horace was on the point of confiding in his 
new friend. Why should he wait until he met 
the inspector? He might be wasting valuable 
time. 


THE MAN IN THE BROWN HAT n 

I say, Rudlow,^' he began, “ I have happened 
to overhear 

Excuse me for interrupting you,” Rudlow 
broke in. “ I want you to see these rooms, the 
executive offices. Pretty fine, eh ? But I inter- 
rupted you. What were you about to say ? ” 

Horace found himself suddenly tongue tied. 
Standing only a few feet away was a group of 
men, evidently in authority. He could not be 
mistaken. He recognized instantly one of the 
men he had overheard from the telephone 
booth. 

You were about to say ? ” suggested Rudlow. 

“Who is that man on the left?” Horace 
found breath to ask. 

“ The one with the black moustache ? Why, 
thaPs Mr. A. H. Philips. He’s pretty high up, 
I can tell you.” 

“ I guess I’d better go on now,” Horace 
suggested. 

“ And it is about my time, too,” Rudlow 
agreed. “ I’ll show you to the elevator.” 

The situation had suddenly grown very com- 


78 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


plicated. If the man Horace strongly suspected 
of plotting theft held an important position he 
was particularly dangerous. Horace was thank- 
ful for the interruption which had kept him 
from telling Rudlow his suspicions. 

Although Horace had left the office very 
quickly, the alert eye of the man with the black 
moustache had observed him narrowly. The 
moment the boys had departed he excused 
himself from the group and, beckoning 
another man to him, followed them. 

Horace parted with Rudlow at the entrance 
and started at a leisurely pace up Broadway. 
He was very much disturbed by the chance 
recognition of a few minutes before. 

There was not the slightest doubt in his mind 
that Philips, whatever position he might oc- 
cupy, was the man who had aroused his sus- 
picions. If he was a man with influence in the 
company, and was guilty, it would be a very 
difficult and dangerous affair to testify against 
him. 

Meanwhile, deep in thought, Horace kept 


THE MAN IN THE BROWN HAT 


79 


straight on up Broadway. He had walked for 
several blocks when a particularly tall building 
attracted his attention, and he stopped abruptly 
to look at it. As he halted, a man walking 
closely behind him suddenly bumped into him 
rather violently. 

I beg your pardon,^' said Horace quickly. 

I beg yours, said the man and hurried on. 

Horace chanced to notice that the man wore 
a soft hat, of a rather unusual color, but he 
forgot the incident in his interest in the new 
building. A moment later he walked on at a 
leisurely pace. 

Several blocks further up the street, Horace 
turned suddenly to watch a passing vehicle 
when his eye caught a glimpse of the same hat. 
It made no impression on him, however, at the 
time. 

Fully twenty minutes later, when he was 
well up-town, he chanced to look behind him, 
and once more noticed the curious brown 
Fedora close behind him. 

A suspicion flashed through his mind. It 


80 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


was just possible he was being followed. The 
chances were all against this being so, but he 
could not get the idea out of his mind. 

Horace quickened his pace, and, after walk- 
ing briskly for a block, again turned suddenly. 
The brown hat was still only a few feet behind 
him. It seemed to keep this position, whether 
he walked fast or slowly. His suspicions were 
now thoroughly aroused. 

There could be only one reason for following 
him, Horace reflected, and if he were being 
shadowed there was no time to lose. At any 
rate, this was a game two could play at. 

Quickening his pace, Horace strode on for 
several blocks and then suddenly darted into 
the shelter of a doorway. From the darkness of 
the hallway he could keep a lookout on the 
pavement without being seen. 

He had only a moment to wait. Sure 
enough, the brown Fedora had been but a short 
distance away. Just in front of the doorway 
the man stopped and looked keenly about him 
in all directions. His prey had vanished. 


THE MAN IN THE BROWN HAT 


81 


For several minutes he searched the side- 
walks on either side of the street and looked 
anxiously up the side streets. Then he turned 
and started back down-town. 


CHAPTER V 
A Sinister Warning 

T he mysterious man with the brown hat 
did not return. From his place of con- 
cealment Horace watched the crowded sidewalk 
narrowly for a long time. 

In the great throng there were several brown 
hats, but none of the same peculiar shade. 
Luckily it was a color and form which could 
be readily recognized. 

After remaining hidden in the deep doorway 
for fully fifteen minutes, Horace decided that it 
would be safe to venture out upon the sidewalk. 
Finally, with every nerve alert, he quitted his 
place of concealment and looked anxiously 
about. The brown hat was nowhere in sight. 

Horace plunged at random into another street 
and walked for some distance at a rapid pace. 
After covering a mile or more he gradually 
82 


A SINISTER WARNING 


83 


slowed down. If he were being tracked by the 
cleverest detective in New York, he decided, 
these tactics must have deceived him. 

The whole afiair was extremely puzzling. If 
anyone took the trouble to shadow him, it must 
be some friend of the men he had overheard 
from the telephone booth. Horace reviewed 
the situation from the beginning. 

To be sure, he had overheard the suspicious 
conversation on the telephone, but the men 
could know nothing of that. He had met one 
of them for a moment, face to face, in the tele- 
phone booth ; but after all, he asked himself, 
had he been recognized or had the man known 
that he was eavesdropping? In the telephone 
offices again he had recognized one of the men, 
but he did not know that he, himself, had been 
recognized. 

The great, cheerful crowds and the bright 
sunlight somehow reassured him. There was 
an excellent chance that, after all, he had been 
mistaken. The man with the brown hat might 
have been an accident. As the day wore on 


84 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


the matter seemed less important, and Horace 
began to smile at the absurdity of his suspicions. 

At the next corner he chanced on an unusual 
sight which drove the brown hat completely 
from his mind. A dense crowd filled the side- 
walk and every one seemed to be gazing intently 
upward. Horace followed their example but 
could find nothing remarkable to see. 

Every eye seemed to be fixed on the top of a 
high building across the street. To Horace it 
seemed like any other building. The crowd, 
meanwhile, grew rapidly larger. He now no- 
ticed that every one about him held a watch in 
his hand. It was a curious crowd, for no one 
seemed to be speaking ; all stood silently gazing 
intently at the sky. 

** I beg your pardon,'^ Horace addressed the 
man next him. What is every one looking 
at?'’ 

The man was so intent in gazing at the sky 
that he did not turn his head. 

‘‘ Time-ball," was the brief reply. 

Horace looked again in the direction in which 


A SINISTER WARNING 


85 


the crowd was gazing, but could discover noth- 
ing unusual in the sky-line before him. He 
tried again. 

Time-ball,*^ the next man answered, without 
for a moment taking his eyes from the sky. 

There she goes I a score of people exclaimed 
suddenly, and on the instant every eye was 
dropped from the sky and all seemed to be in- 
tent on their watches. 

Horace understood. The crowd had been 
watching the famous time-ball, a great globe 
at the top of a high pole which dropped exactly 
at twelve o^clock. The signal came directly 
from Washington by telegraph in the least frac- 
tion of a second. This time service was part 
of the great system of electric communication 
which interested Horace so deeply. 

The hour reminded Horace that it was lunch 
time. Several hours must pass before the super- 
intendent would be in his office, and he de- 
cided to spend the time in carrying out a long- 
cherished plan. It had been his ambition for 
years to visit Chinatown. The quaint streets 


86 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


and queer, highly spiced dishes had a great 
attraction for him. 

His study of the map of New York had told 
him that he was now but a few minutes^ walk 
from this curious quarter of the great city. He 
decided on the direction and started at a quick- 
ened pace. 

The memory of the brown hat came back for 
a moment, and for several blocks he amused 
himself by picking out all the brown hats he 
passed. There were none of the same peculiar 
shade. It suddenly occurred to him that the 
hat had been drawn down low over the wearer^s 
face, and that he could not remember what its 
owner had looked like. 

In a few minutes Horace came within sight 
of the first of the curious Chinese signs which 
mark the little pagan city, and all thoughts of 
the brown hat were left behind. 

For an hour he wandered about the quaint 
streets making a thousand delightful discoveries. 
By turning the corner he seemed to have been 
transported thousands of miles to some pictur- 


A SINISTER WARNING 


87 


esque city of the Orient. On every side, the 
house fronts were covered with outlandish 
Chinese letters, and wonderful decorations in 
bright red and gold of serpents and dragons. 

A deafening clatter of drums and rattling tin- 
ware suddenly filled the street. Horace hurried 
forward as a long procession turned the corner 
headed by a number of Chinamen who were 
making this outrageous clatter on queer-look- 
ing instruments. A dense throng of Chinamen 
quickly flowed from the houses at the sound 
and filled the sidewalks. Horace sought infor- 
mation from a policeman at the corner. 

Can you tell me what the parade is for ? 
he inquired. 

Chine funeral,^^ was the laconic reply. 

** Excuse me, but what kind of a funeral ? 

They^re burying a Chine, I tell you, pigtail 
and all.^^ The policeman looked at Horace 
curiously. 

“ Oh, a Chinese funeral.^^ Horace was sud- 
denly enlightened. 

Surest thing you know.” 


88 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOK 


** But what do they make that racket for ? 

** You must be a stranger,” the policeman 
smiled. “ ThaPs a Chinese band.” 

“ Do they call that music ? ” 

“ No, I donT think so.” The policeman was 
growing quite friendly. “ They think they are 
frightening away the evil spirits or something 
of that sort.” 

They seem to be working hard enough at 
it,” Horace observed. 

You bet they do,” the policeman agreed. 
“ Do you see those Chines with the bits of 
paper ? ” 

“ The men throwing waste paper about ? ” 

Sure, but they don’t think it’s waste paper 
exactly. Those are the prayer papers with 
their heathen prayers written on ’em.” 

** Why do they strew them about like that?” 

It is some heathen custom, and thousands 
of years old. They believe the prayers will 
reach the spirits of the air, or something.” 

“ What becomes of them ? ” 

Well, as far as I can see, nothing, except 


A SINISTER WARNING 


89 


that they fill up the gutters so that they have to 
be swept up” 

Horace watched the curious procession until 
it turned a corner and disappeared. He had 
‘read about such ceremonies in China, but had 
never hoped to actually see one. 

“ If you are a stranger here,” the policeman 
suggested kindly, ^‘you may want to see the 
Joss House.” 

** I should, very much indeed,” Horace agreed 
readily. 

‘‘ That^s it, right across the street with the 
big gold sign.” 

Can any one attend it ? ” Horace inquired. 

“ Sure, they’ll be glad to see you.” The police- 
man grinned. “ Don’t let ’em sell you any 
lottery tickets.” 

A long dark flight of steps led from the side- 
walk to the Joss House. They were narrow 
and very dirty and a curious pungent odor, 
new to Horace’s experience, filled the air. He 
was to learn later that the odor was that of 
burning opium, 


90 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


The Chinese temple consisted of a rather 
large rooni crowded with curious decorations. 
On entering the door Horace instinctively took 
off his hat, but when he found he was the only 
one who did so he put it on again. 

The most interesting object in the room was 
a curious altar, decorated with the pictures of 
grotesque Chinese gods. Before this burned a 
number of sticks, such as Horace had often 
burned at home to drive away the mosquitoes. 
The incense, for such it was, rose in thick 
clouds. 

On Horace's appearance, a Chinaman crossed 
the room and held out a number of slips of 
paper. Horace noticed that they were red with 
Chinese hieroglyphics. 

Tin cint," the Chinaman repeated several 
times. 

Oh, ten cents," Horace translated. What 
are they for ? " 

“ Lot ticket." 

“ I beg your pardon." 

** Lot ticket. Tin cint." 


A SINISTER WARNING 


91 


A lottery ticket I It was the last object in the 
world Horace would have expected to have seen 
sold in a church. He bought one as a souvenir 
and returned to the street. 

The tiny Chinese shops were a delight. In 
the narrow windows were displayed beautiful 
silks, as fine as any to be found in all New 
York. The salesmen were always Chinamen, 
dressed in long loose robes, who shufiied about 
noiselessly in their curious sandals. 

Among the unfamiliar Chinese signs on every 
hand Horace was delighted to discover the 
familiar advertisement of a pay telephone sta- 
tion. The good clear English letters looked 
like old friends in this strange company. 

A moment later a Chinaman entered the tele- 
phone booth and turned the pages of the di- 
rectory. Plunging his hand into some myste- 
rious fold of his loose robes, he brought out a 
nickel and dropped it in the slot. 

^‘Wong aong fong,” he droned into the re- 
ceiver, or at least so it sounded to Horace. 

For a moment the Oriental stood silent listen- 


92 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


ing. It seemed almost impossible that the tele- 
phone could transmit such sounds. Suddenly 
the Chinaman’s face grew animated and he 
poured a stream of gibberish into the metal re- 
ceiver. It seemed as if the delicate mechanism 
must break under the strain. 

As Horace knew, the telephone company had 
made special arrangements to handle just such 
messages. A Chinese at central had translated 
the call into English and the number had 
been connected as quickly as though spoken in 
English. 

Leaving the Chinaman to his telephone con- 
versation, Horace sought out a restaurant. The 
room was furnished with beautifully carved 
tables and stools made of teak-wood as black as 
ebony. About the walls were many rich deco- 
rations in gold. 

At one end of the restaurant in plain sight 
of the customers was the kitchen, where the 
meals were being prepared. Horace was espe- 
cially interested in the crates of live chickens, 
which were killed and cooked as ordered, to 


A SINISTER WARNING 


93 


insure their being fresh. The curious Chinese 
stove and cooking utensils were wonderfully 
neat and clean. 

A waiter in a long loose blue robe approached 
noiselessly. 

You want dinner he inquired with ob- 
sequious politeness. 

'' What have you ? ** 

Chop suey. Hocki main. Lice (rice). What 
you want ? ” 

“ Chop suey/^ said Horace at a venture. 

** Lice, tea ? ” 

** Yes, bring me both.^^ 

The waiter returned shortly with a curious 
looking dish of chopped meats, and bits of 
vegetables, a bowl of beautiful white rice and a 
pot of tea. A tiny teacup scarcely larger than 
a thimble without a handle was set down and 
two long thin black sticks. 

Waiter ? Horace called. 

The Chinaman glided back noiselessly. 

What are these ? ” 

“ Chop sticks. You want fork ? ” 


94 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

“ Yes, a fork. What do you expect me to eat 
with ? And there’s no knife, or spoon, or sugar 
for the tea.” 

The waiter returned with a single fork and 
explained that there was no such thing as sugar 
in the place, and they did not serve spoons or 
knives. Horace found that if he was in China- 
town he must eat as the Chinese did, and 
started in on his dinner. It proved to be sur- 
prisingly good. 

I see you are a stranger. May I sit at your 
table ? ” Horace looked around to find a young 
man, somewhat older than himself, standing be- 
side him. He had evidently risen from a near- 
by table, for he wore no hat. 

“ Why, certainly.” Horace made room for 
him. 

“ Perhaps I can explain the dinner service 
here ? ” 

I seem to have a poor waiter,” Horace said. 

I can’t make him understand that he has 
forgotten to give me a knife or sugar for my 
tea.” 


A SINISTER WARNING 


95 


“ The mistake is quite natural/^ the stranger 
explained. The Chinese never use sugar in 
their tea. As for the knife the food is cut up 
before it is served.^' 

“ Perhaps you can tell me what these black 
sticks are for ? 

^‘Certainly. They are chop sticks. Once 
you learn to use them you will give up the 
fork.^^ 

“ IPs very kind of you/^ said Horace. 

“ Not at all. Not at all.^’ 

The stranger was very well dressed, and 
seemed very much at home. Horace was not 
sure that he liked him at first glance. He had 
small eyes which constantly shifted from side to 
side, and his expression did not seem as open as 
Horace would have liked. 

Is this your first visit to Chinatown, may I 
ask ? 

“ Oh, yes, and my first visit to New York.^^ 

Although the stranger spoke glibly, Horace 
noticed that he never quite looked him directly 
in the face. 


96 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


‘‘ I often drop in here for a meal, and I hate 
eating alone/^ 

'' So do 1,” Horace agreed. 

My name is Fenwick.'^ 

I'm glad to know you, Mr. Fenwick. Mine 
is Bromley." 

They shook hands. 

** Since we are to dine together, what do you 
say to a cocktail? The Chinaman will bring 
one in." 

Thank you, I never drink," Horace ex- 
plained. 

Too bad. There's nothing to cement a new 
friendship like a cocktail. If you don't mind 
I'll have one myself." 

The drink was served and Fenwick drank it 
at one gulp. Horace liked his new companion 
less and less, and regretted that he could not 
have eaten his dinner alone. 

The next time we dine together, perhaps 
you will change your mind," Fenwick sug- 
gested. It's never too late to mend." 

Horace said nothing, but he decided that this 


A SINISTEE WARNING 


97 


meal would be the last one he would have with 
his companion. 

Chinatown is a mighty interesting place, 
if you know the ropes, Fenwick explained. 
“ Have you seen much of it ? ” 

“ Not much. I dropped in at the Joss 
House.^' 

Fenwick made a wry face. 

You must have found that very stupid. 
Now when we get through I can show you some 
real sights. Ever been in a hop joint?” 

” A hop joint ? I am afraid I don^t under- 
stand.” 

” Well, you are new to the town.” Fenwick 
smiled. ” Hop is slang for opium.” 

** No, I never have.” Horace was not in- 
terested. 

** Nor a fantan lay-out ? ” 

** I don^t even know what it is.” 

** Well, that^s a gambling joint. I can show 
you both less than a block from here.” 

don^t believe I care much about that, 
either,” Horace confessed. 


98 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


“ Tut, tut I You come with me, my young 
friend, and we41 make a man of you yet.” 

Horace did not care to discuss the matter and 
ate his dinner more rapidly to be rid of his 
companion. 

“ I know the town pretty well,” Fenwick ran 
on, and I’ll be glad to help you to see what 
interests you most.” 

Thank you, but I don’t expect to have 
much time for sightseeing.” Horace was not 
in the least attracted by the offer. 

Are you interested in mechanics at all ? ” 

<< Why yes, rather,” Horace explained reluc- 
tantly. 

Because if you are, I’m just the one to put 
you wise. I have friends in many lines of 
business who would be glad to show you about.” 

I’m afraid I must put in my time looking 
for work.” 

Well, then, it is lucky for you we happened 
to meet.” Fenwick seemed excited. ** I can fix 
you up in no time. What line of work do you 
fancy ? ” 


A SINISTEE WARNING 


99 


** I couldn^t think to trouble you/^ 

No trouble in the least. I like to do any 
one a good turn.^^ 

Horace found it hard to dodge this insistent 
stranger. 

I couldn^t think of troubling you,” he re- 
peated. 

Fenwick dropped the subject. 

“ Well, then, have you solved the problem of 
living in New York ? ” 

I have some plans.” 

A great deal depends upon where you live,” 
Fenwick insisted. Have you picked out your 
home yet ? ” 

** Well, for the present, I am very comfort- 
able, thank you.” 

What part of the city have you settled in ? ” 
I^m living for the present in Brooklyn.” 

“Brooklyn is a good place,” Fenwick agreed. 
“ What^s your address ?” 

There was no reason why Horace should not 
give his address, and he would have mentioned 
it without hesitation if the man before him 


100 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


had been more congenial. He had made a bad 
impression from the first, however, by insisting 
that Horace join him in a drink, and the boy 
did not care to prolong the acquaintance. 

Oh, I’m living pretty far out,” he replied 
evasively. 

Fenwick dropped the question as he had 
before. 

» ‘‘By the way, there is something near here 
which may interest you,” he ran on easily. 
“ Have you ever heard of the famous Five 
Points ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed.” Horace was really inter- 
ested. 

“ It’s only a few minutes’ walk. I’ll show the 
place to you. There are still some of the 
original buildings left.” 

“ I have read about them.” 

‘‘ Sure, you have. It was once the wickedest 
spot in the world. Why, no one was safe even 
to walk through it. Even the police would not 
go through there alone, but went in squads. 

“ And that reminds me — are you interested 


A SINISTER WARNING 101 

in crime? Detective stories and that sort of 
thing 

“ Why, not particularly,^^ Horace confessed. 
Fenwick was beginning to get on his nerves. 

“ I just happened to hear an interesting story 
of a plot,^^ Fenwick explained. ** I have a great 
many friends among the men higher up in the 
detective bureau. I thought you might be in- 
terested. I saw you looking at the telephone 
down the street.^' 

You saw me ? Why, where were you ? 

Fenwick bit his lip. For the first time he 
seemed embarrassed. 

‘*Oh, I just chanced to see you as I was 
coming here for dinner. I come regularly 
along this street.^^ 

Fenwick continued to talk very rapidly. 

** Well, this story I was going to tell you was 
about a remarkable piece of detective work some 
of my friends are doing.^^ 

He looked narrowly at Horace. 

** Have you ever heard of the thieves who rob 
telephone boxes ?” he asked suddenly. 


102 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


“ How is it done ? Horace was surprised at 
the coolness with which he parried the question. 

I thought you might have heard of them. 
They break open the pay booths.” Fenwick was 
watching him intently. 

I think I remember hearing of something 
of the kind,” Horace replied. 

“ The story doesn^t interest you, eh ? ” 

can’t say that it does,” said Horace steadily. 

Fenwick leaned across the table until his face 
almost touched Horace. 

'' I was merely going to say that these men 
have the reputation of being very dangerous. 
Very dangerous ! ” 

I think I must be going.” Horace rose 
from the table. Thank you, Mr. Fenwick, for 
all your information.” 

'‘Won’t you let me pay for the dinner?” 
Fenwick pulled a roll of notes from his pocket. 

“ I couldn’t think of putting myself under 
further obligations to you,” Horace insisted. 

“ Well, good-day, Mr. Bromley. We may meet 
again.” Fenwick had the same bland smile. 


A SINISTER WARNING 


103 


** Good-day/^ said Horace. 

Fenwick turned hastily to a peg on the wall 
for his hat and coat and hurried from the res- 
taurant. The hat he had taken from the wall 
was the same unusually brown color Horace had 
seen following him in the crowd. 


CHAPTER VI 
In the Coils 

H orace was thoroughly alarmed. He was 
not easily frightened and he could have 
faced any open danger with a brave face, but 
this mysterious shadowing was extremely daunt- 
ing. 

It was clear to him that clever and desperate 
men were on his trail. He recalled how care- 
fully he had hidden from the man with the 
brown hat, and how he raced through blocks of 
streets to shake the sleuth loose. The man who 
followed him must have kept him in sight all 
that time to be at his elbow when he sat down 
to dinner in Chinatown. 

There could be no doubt about the next step to 
be taken. Horace walked slowly until he found 
himself in a block which was practically de- 
104 , 


IN THE COILS 


105 


serted. When he made sure there was no sus- 
picious character in sight, he dived suddenly 
into an open doorway and from this vantage 
point closely watched every one who passed. 

After a long wait he decided that no one 
could possibly be watching him this time. To 
make absolutely certain of the fact, Horace re- 
peated the same trick again and again in dif- 
ferent streets. It was clear that the man with 
the brown hat had either been thrown com- 
pletely off the scent, or had abandoned the trail. 
Doubtless he had decided that his warning was 
enough, and had left Horace to himself. 

Horace congratulated himself on the chance 
that had made him take a room in a remote 
neighborhood in Brooklyn. He told himself 
that he couldn't have chosen a better place 
of concealment. No one would ever think of 
looking for him in such a place. 

As he drew near his hall bedroom, which he 
must call his “ home," Horace felt a comfortable 
sense of safety. As long as he remained here, he 
told himself, he was safe. Until the next morn- 


106 THE YOUJS'G TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

ing, when he was to present himself at the tele- 
phone offices to apply for a position, his mind 
might be at rest. 

He unlocked the front door, and was about to 
step inside when he heard his name called from 
the end of the long dark hallway. 

“ Meester Horace, is dot you ? 

‘‘ Yes, iPs Horace. Do you want to see me? 
The voice was unmistakably that of his good- 
natured landlady. 

“ Yah, Meester Horace. Were you a visitor 
expecting to-day ? 

Horace^s pulse suddenly jumped. Who could 
be inquiring for him ? He had not told a per- 
son where he lived. 

'‘Has anyone called to see me?” he asked 
nervously. 

“ I tinck so. I vas not in ven he called.” 

“ Who was it ? What did he want ? ” 

“ A shentlemens to see you.” 

“ Did he leave his name ? ” 

“No name he left, aber I link he will call 
again.” 


IN THE COILS 


107 


** When was this ? 

About two, three hours back/^ 

Horace could get no more definite informa- 
tion. It appeared that a man, whom no one 
could describe very definitely, had called and 
inquired for him by name, and that was all. 
He had given no clue as to his business. 

One of the most puzzling features was the 
hour of the call. At that moment Horace fig- 
ured he must have been lunching in China- 
town. The caller could not have been the man 
with the brown hat. 

He reviewed the meager evidence with the 
most anxious attention. Since it took more 
than a half hour to reach the boarding-house 
from the neighborhood of Chinatown it was out 
of the question that the same man had made 
the journey. 

There was the possibility that two men were 
following him, but to Horace this theory seemed 
unlikely for several reasons. If the two men 
were on his track, they would, of course, be 
working together, and the mysterious caller 


108 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


would know that Horace would not be at home 
at such an hour. 

On the other hand, the caller might have 
known perfectly well that Horace was not at 
home and had merely intended to spy out his 
room, and pick up any information he might 
chance on in his absence. 

Horace revolved the questions in his mind 
over and over again, without finding any solu- 
tion. He could not bring himself to believe 
that any detective, however clever he might be, 
could have spied out his home far out in 
Brooklyn after all his efforts to cover his trail. 

The hours which intervened between his 
home-coming and the time for reporting for 
work, nevertheless, dragged anxiously by. To 
be on the safe side, Horace did not take his 
meals at the restaurant next door but sought 
another place some blocks distant. 

Throughout the meal Horace watched every 
face on the chance of finding some clue. It 
was possible that the most innocent looking 
stranger was connected with the man with the 


IN THE COILS 


109 


brown hat, and the constant atmosphere of sus- 
picion was beginning to get on his nerves. 

During the night as Horace lay reviewing 
the mysterious affairs of the day, there were 
times when he almost decided that his sus- 
picions were largely unfounded and his position 
was much better than he had feared. Even if 
the worst came to the worst, he reassured him- 
self, he had two or three friends he could count 
on. 

Hour after hour his mind shifted from one 
point of view to another. When he woke from 
a troubled sleep next morning, however, his 
mind was at last entirely made up. He had 
had enough of anxiety. As soon as he reached 
the telephone building, he told himself, he 
would take his friends into his confidence, come 
what might. 

It would be impossible, of course, to see Mr. 
Rockwell since he was out of the city. It 
would be a perfectly simple matter, however, to 
tell Mr. Sutton just what had occurred, and 
Horace felt sure of a sympathetic listener. 


110 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


No sooner had he made up his mind to this 
course than a great weight was suddenly lifted 
from him. He wondered how he could ever 
have hesitated. His duty seemed perfectly 
simple and clear. 

Before leaving the house Horace unlocked his 
suit case and examined the delicate mechanism 
which he hoped would work wonders in the 
science of telephoning. For months he had 
labored over the ingenious contrivance, per- 
fecting every detail until he felt certain it could 
not fail in an actual test. 

It seemed to him to be in perfect working 
order. Within a few days he promised himself 
he would have the opportunity of demonstrat- 
ing it before men powerful in the telephone 
world. 

Once more the instrument was packed away, 
and as an additional precaution Horace placed 
the suit case in a closet in the room, and, lock- 
ing the door, he put the key in his pocket. 

Arrived at the telephone headquarters in New 
York, Horace looked shrewdly about him for 


IN THE COILS 


111 


any suspicious character. Every one in the 
busy crowd, however, seemed intent on his own 
affairs, and failed to give him even a passing 
glance. 

Horace found his way to the express elevator, 
and stepped quickly aboard. A night spent 
wakefully in anxious thoughts had had its effect 
on his nerves. From behind him a hand was 
suddenly laid upon his shoulder. It is no ex- 
aggeration to say that Horace jumped as though 
shot. 

“ Hello, old man,^^ said a hearty voice. 

Horace turned as though on springs. 

It was Rudlow. 

“ Did you think I was a creditor or a police- 
man ? ” 

Why do you ask that ? ” Horace struggled 
in his nervousness. 

I was only joking, of course,^^ his friend re- 
assured him. '' Sorry if I frightened you.'^ 

** I must be nervous,^^ Horace confessed. 

A moment later the elevator came smoothly 
to the floor where the boys alighted. 


112 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

Did they tell you I dropped in on you ? 
Rudlow asked. 

“ When, where ? ” Horace stammered. 

'' Why, out in your Brooklyn place.” 

** Was it you who called ? ” 

Surest thing you know.” 

** How did you know where I lived ? ” 

** Easy. You told me the joke about living 
on Vite Street, you know. I happen to know the 
section, and finding myself in the neighborhood 
yesterday I dropped in.” 

** Did I tell you the number ? ” 

“ No, but you said you were eating next door, 
and I put two and two together.” 

** So that accounts for it ? ” Horace repeated 
to himself. 

WhaPs that?” 

** I forgive you, old man, but you gave me an 
awful scare.” 

** Will you kindly stop talking in riddles, 
and explain how I scared you ? Seems simple 
enough to me.” 

They didn’t tell me who called, you see, 


IN THE COILS 


113 


and I thought you might be — but it’s a long 
story. I want to tell you about it from the 
beginning.” 

“ All right, fire ahead.” 

“ I must ask you to treat what I’m going to 
tell you in absolute confidence,” Horace began. 

Sure. But that sounds rather formidable. 
You are not in any serious trouble, I hope ? ” 

“ That’s what I want you to decide.” 

“You can count on me, but just wait a mo- 
ment. There is old man Sutton beckoning to 
you. Hurry up I See you later I ” 

If Horace had not been interrupted at this mo- 
ment, and had been able to pour out his troubles 
into Rudlow’s sympathetic ears, he would have 
been saved many troublous hours. Chance de- 
cided otherwise. 

He left his friend, and hurried into a near-by 
office where Mr. Sutton indeed stood beckoning. 

“ Good-morning,” the foreman spoke pleas- 
antly. 

“ Good-morning, Mr. Sutton.” 

“I saw you passing. It happens I have a 


114 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


minute to spare. Come inside/^ and he led the 
way into an inner office. 

Now was the time for Horace to make a con- 
fidant of the superintendent. He felt very much 
embarrassed in the presence of the busy man be- 
fore him, but nevertheless took his courage in 
both hands and began. 

** Mr. Sutton, I ” 

‘^Just a moment, my boy I There goes the 
buzzer I I'll be back right away," and, opening 
a door, he disappeared. 

Horace waited alone for several minutes. How 
should he begin ? He was busy arranging his 
thoughts when the door opened and Mr. Sutton 
returned with an alert step. He began talking 
rapidly. 

'' I have just a minute, and I'm going to spend 
it talking about your invention which they have 
been telling me about." 

Horace might have returned to the conversa- 
tion interrupted but instead he plunged into a 
description of his beloved hobby. He could 
come back to his story later. 


IN THE COILS 


115 


** I have been working on an appliance for 
clarifying telephone messages,” he began. “ My 
idea is to make a muffled message, such as comes 
over a long distance, or a poor connection, as 
clear as though it had been transmitted for only 
a few miles.” 

“ You have quite a contract on your hands, my 
boy ! ” 

“ I know it, sir.” Horace gained confidence 
as he spoke. I won’t bother you with details. 
I have worked it out and all I want is a chance 
to show what I can do.” 

Your invention is past the experimental 
stage then ? ” 

Oh, quite so, sir. I have tested it many 
times on regular lines.” 

** Does it work ? ” 

It has so far.” 

Is it expensive? ” 

“ No, sir. The appliance costs only a few 
dollars.” 

“ That sounds promising,” Mr. Sutton said 
pleasantly, '' but I suppose you know that many 


116 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


expert engineers have been working along those 
lines ? 

I know it, sir/^ 

“ And the chances are very much against a 
boy like you hitting on a discovery which has 
baffled the experts for years. 

“ All I ask is a fair trial, sir,^^ Horace persisted. 
** It would not take much time.^' 

“ What actual tests have you made?” 

I connected it up on our local lines at home. 
It worked perfectly.” 

” Yes, yes,” Mr. Sutton smiled, “ but it is a 
very different matter to apply such an apparatus 
under the conditions here in a great telephone 
exchange. You know enough about telephon- 
ing to understand that.” 

** I have tried it under very unfavorable con- 
ditions, sir.” 

Perhaps, perhaps,” Mr. Sutton admitted. 
** Well, I havenT time to-day, but Pll see what I 
can do for you. In a few days I guess I can ar- 
range a trial.” 

“ Thank you very much. That’s all I ask.” 


IN THE COILS 


117 


** And, of course, you know, if you do hit it, 
there is unlimited money for the inventor. 
Such a device, if cheap and effective, is badly 
needed, and could be sold from one end of the 
country to the other.^' 

** I know it.” Horace smiled. 

** You must keep in touch with me, and per- 
haps by the end of the week I can arrange the 
test. But don’t be disappointed.” 

A loud ringing suddenly filled the air. At the 
first warning note Mr. Sutton sprang to his feet. 

“ An emergency call,” he said crisply. 

The door of the room was thrown open and 
several men rushed into the room. The atmos- 
phere was suddenly charged with excitement. 

** An important emergency call has just come 
in,” Mr. Sutton explained hurriedly. The 
work we have to do will give you some interest- 
ing experience. Do you want to help us out? ” 

** I should be very glad to.” Horace sprang 
to his feet. 

** Come along then,” and Mr. Sutton hurried 
from the room. 


118 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


The call proved to be to a distant part of the 
city. A blast, set off in one of the subway ex- 
cavations, had badly tangled up an important 
telephone main. 

When the lines had been replaced and the 
tests showed that the wires were in perfect 
working order again, Mr. Sutton found time to 
speak to Horace. He praised his work and dis- 
missed him for the day. 

In this second test, Horace had proved him- 
self to be an excellent worker, and his chances 
of receiving a good position at Mr. Sutton^s 
hands he felt were still further improved. 

The work completed, Horace made his way 
back to the telephone offices, well pleased with 
the day^s experience. 

In the lobby of the building a well-dressed 
young fellow suddenly laid a hand on Horace's 
arm. 

I beg your pardon for interrupting you," he 
said politely. 

I beg yours," said Horace. 

It is a curious request to make of a total 


IN THE COILS 


119 


stranger, but might I trouble you to do me and 
my friend here a slight favor ? 

“ If I csLu” said Horace. 

It's this way/' the stranger went on pleas* 
antly. You see, we have a handful here of 
small change, and we want to turn it into a 
dollar bill to put in a letter. Might we trouble 
you, if you chance to have a note ? " 

Horace had heard many stories of bunco men 
accosting strangers in New York with a variety 
of swindling schemes, and despite the stranger's 
pleasant manner he was instantly on his guard. 

We only want a dollar bill," the young 
fellow explained laughing. I hope you don't 
think we are swindlers. Well, you can see for 
yourself that the money is good." 

He dropped a quarter on a glass case near by. 
It rang perfectly true. 

Horace was a little ashamed of his suspicions. 
The money was undoubtedly genuine, as he 
could tell from the ring. 

It will be a great accommodation," the 
second stranger smiled. 


120 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Horace drew a dollar bill from his pocket. 

** Thank you very much,” said the young 
fellow. 

From a handful of change he began to count 
the money. 

If you donT mind will you take small 
coins ? ” 

“ Of course,” said Horace. 

Very good of you, I^m sure.” 

The dollar was quickly counted out and the 
bill exchanged hands. Horace counted the 
money, which was clearly correct. As he 
slipped it into his pocket he noticed casually 
that most of it was in nickels. 

Thank you again I ” and the young men 
disappeared. 

The incident was forgotten a moment later. 

In Mr. Sutton^s office when Horace reported 
stood a half dozen alert-looking men. Horace 
looked about him and his eyes rested on Mr. 
Sutton^s face. He was surprised to find that he 
no longer smiled, but regarded him with a 
curious, intent expression. 


IN THE COILS 


121 


A tall, heavily built man who was a stranger 
to Horace stepped forward. 

** Is this the young man ? he asked crisply. 

“ Bromley, just a moment,’' said Mr. Sutton 
tersely. I’m sorry to say that this man, who 
is a central office detective, has an unpleasant 
duty to perform.” 

“ I beg your pardon,” Horace began. 

“ See here, young feller,” the detective broke 
in, the game’s up. We have the goods on 
you.” 

I don’t know what you mean I ” Horace 
stammered. 

“ Oh, yes, you do. You are wanted for rob- 
bing the telephone booths.” 

“ Oh ! ” Horace suddenly saw a light. 

Understand now, do you ? ” 

I am perfectly innocent.” Horace found 
his breath. 

You don’t mind being searched then ? ” 

Certainly not,” Horace said confidently. 

Because we mean to search you anyway I ” 

** I’m very sorry,” Mr. Sutton interrupted. 


122 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


And I certainly hope you can clear your- 
self/^ 

It^s a clear case/^ said the detective. We 
have caught him with the goods.'^ 

This is outrageous I Horace broke out in- 
dignantly. 

Not so fast, young man,^' said the detective. 

Let’s see what you have in your pockets.” 

With a deft hand the detective quickly turned 
the pockets of Horace’s trousers inside out. A 
moment later he held up for inspection a hand- 
ful of nickels. 

“Just as I told you,” he said triumphantly. 
“ These are marked coins. We placed them in 
the telephone boxes to be able to trace the thief. 
Come along, young man.” 


CHAPTER VII 
The Third Degree 


OT so fast ! Not so fast I Mr. Sutton 



brought his fist down on the desk with a 


bang. 


‘‘ What yer mean ? the detective barked. 

“ I mean that I'm not convinced this boy is 
guilty." 

“ Never saw a clearer case in my life," snapped 
the detective. 

“ I don't know about that," insisted Mr. Sut- 
ton. “Anyway, I'm going to see this through." 

“ All right, if you insist." The detective 
picked up his hat. “ Come along to the police 
station." 

“ I'll do nothing of the sort. The boy is to 
be questioned right here." 

“ I thought you were anxious to catch this 


thief? " 


123 


124 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


No one more so, but the boy stays here for 
the moment.” 

The detective smothered an exclamation. He 
was not accustomed to being balked, but he put 
down his hat. 

‘‘ Listen to reason, Mr. Sutton. You have 
been urging me for weeks to get to the bot- 
tom of these thefts. Vve been told I have not 
pushed matters hard enough. Well, now I 
have the thief and you hang back.” 

‘‘ The boy is to be questioned here,” said Mr. 
Sutton steadily. 

Let me suggest ” — the detective was very 
much in earnest — ** that I have had a great deal 
more experience in these cases than you. The 
police station is the best place for our little 
examination.” 

Why so?” 

** We usually find a prisoner is more likely to 
tell the truth and the whole truth and nothing 
but the truth at headquarters.” 

“ You mean you will put him through the 
third degree ? ” 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


125 


I didn't say so. I merely suggest that the 
surroundings are more conducive to truth tell- 
ing." 

You will bullyrag this boy, and perhaps 
scare him into a confession?" 

“ Well, you want the truth, don't you ? " 

Not if it can only be had in that way." 

“ I tell you that you are too soft with these 
crooks. I know how to handle them." 

“ I'm by no means convinced that the boy is 
a crook, and until he is proven guilty he shall 
not be treated like one with my consent." 

Very well, then, have it your own way." 
The detective was disgusted, and took no pains 
to conceal it. 

'^The boy is almost a stranger to me," Mr. 
Sutton continued, “ but I have handled men all 
my life, and I have never yet been mistaken in 
judging them. And I still believe he is honest." 

Well, you are hard to convince, I must 
say I " grumbled the detective. But I'll con- 
vince you right here in this room in the next 
ten minutes." 


126 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Horace had been dazed by the unexpectedness 
of the attack. It had of course never entered 
his head for a moment that the tables could be 
turned on him so completely. 

The rapid dialogue between Mr. Sutton and 
the detective gave him courage to face his ac- 
cusers. Although it had lasted but a few sec- 
onds, for both men talked very rapidl}^, Horace 
had time to review the situation. 

It was perfectly clear that the innocent look- 
ing stranger who had asked him for a dollar 
bill in exchange for small coins had been a con- 
federate of the real thieves. 

Now, see here I ” the detective suddenly 
barked at him. 

There is nothing like a clear conscience 
to give one courage, and Horace found no 
difficulty in meeting the detective^s ferocious 
gaze. The group of men watched him nar- 
rowly. 

“ Look me in the eye.^^ The order was given 
in a voice which rose to a shout. 

The detective stuck out his heavy, square 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


127 


chin and advanced until his face was within a 
foot of Horace. 

Where’d yer get that money ? 

The small bead-like eyes of the detective 
glared from his ugly set face. He was an old 
hand at the game. 

Horace did not flinch under the gaze. He 
met it with a fearless stare. 

“ It was given to me/^ he replied quite 
calmly. 

None of yer lies/^ shouted the detective. 

Where’d yer get the money ? 

I had the pleasure of telling you/^ Horace 
replied with exasperating calmness. 

The detective stuck out his chin still further 
and held it within six inches of Horace. 

Where'd yer get that money ? His voice 
rose to a shriek. 

Same answer/^ said Horace quietly. 

** Where’d yer get that money ? ” The fero- 
cious jaw worked as though it were going to bite 
the face before it. 

Same answer.'^ 


128 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


This is absurd,” Mr. Sutton interrupted. 

The detective waved him away with a violent 
jesture. 

** Where'd yer get that money ? ” 

Horace paused and seemed to think deeply 
for a moment while the detective fumed. 

The answer is the same,” he remarked 
casually. 

“ See here,” Mr. Sutton broke in, this 
method of cross-examining leads nowhere.” 

“ Let me alone, will you ? ” shouted the de- 
tective. I’ve handled a thousand cases like 
this. This fellow is a hardened criminal.” 

“ I am more than ever convinced he is not,” 
Mr. Sutton said with spirit. 

Leave me alone, and I’ll break him in a 
moment.” 

I’ll give you three minutes more,” said Mr. 
Sutton. 

The detective returned to the attack. He 
shot out his chin until the two faces almost 
touched and shouted his question over and over 
again with all the ferocity he could muster. 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


129 


Horace was not in the least frightened. 
Instead, as the face before him grew red, he 
was rather amused than otherwise and parried 
each question with the same deliberate calm- 
ness. 

** That will do,^^ Mr. Sutton said firmly when 
the three minutes were up. 

The detective wiped the perspiration from 
his brow. The eflbrt was beginning to tell on 
him. 

** Now, my boy,'' Mr. Sutton began kindly 
but firmly, ** tell me how you came by that 
money." 

^*As I entered this building, not ten min- 
utes ago," Horace spoke very quietly, ** a 
man, who was a perfect stranger to me, asked 
me to give him a dollar bill for some loose 
change." 

** A likely story," the detective broke in with 
a sneer. 

“ Go on, my boy, I'm listening." 

“ He said that he needed the bill to put in 
a letter. I merely glanced at the coins he 


130 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


handed me to see if they were correct. The 
marked coins must have been among them.^^ 

Will you swallow a story like that?’^ the 
detective fairly shouted. 

‘‘ Had you ever seen the man before ? ” Mr. 
Sutton paid no attention to the detective^s 
shouting. 

'' Never, sir.^^ 

“ This is absurd,” the detective broke in. ** I 
never heard a thinner story.” 

Have you any idea who he was ? ” Mr. Sut- 
ton continued. 

Yes, sir.” 

“How^s that?” The group pressed forward 
to listen. 

” I have been on the trail of these thieves for 
several days, sir.” 

** Why didn’t you tell me that ? ” the detective 
interrupted. 

You didn’t give me a chance,” Horace pro- 
tested mildly. 

“ Well, that’s so,” one of the group broke in^ 
while several others nodded their heads in assent 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


131 


** Now, my boy,'’ Mr. Sutton went on, I need 
not tell you that you are in a dangerous position, 
but we mean to be fair to you. If you have any 
explanation, tell it in your own words." 

I think I can throw some light on the situa- 
tion," Horace explained. 

He began his story at the beginning, telling 
briefly of his call on the banker, and the sus- 
picious conversation he had heard over the 
telephone. 

'‘Whose office was that?" the detective sud- 
denly broke in. 

" Mr. Rockwell's, on Broadway." 

" You mean to say you know R. C. Rock- 
well?" the detective sneered. 

" I have met him twice." 

" See here " — the detective turned to the 
group — “ this fellow is merely spinning an out- 
rageous yarn. It's likely he knows Rockwell 
now, isn't it ? " 

" He is either perfectly innocent or very much 
the reverse," some one suggested. 

" Can you prove this ? " Mr. Sutton asked. 


132 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** Certainly, sir.” 

Well, then, let^s call up RockwelTs offices,” 
the detective suggested. 

There is no use in doing so now, for Mr. 
Rockwell is out of the city for a few days,” 
Horace explained. 

I thought so,” the detective sneered. ** You 
see when we try to confirm this fool story he be- 
gins to hedge.” 

Go on with your story, my boy,” Mr. Sutton 
suggested. 

Horace briefly sketched his adventures of the 
next day. He explained that his experience 
with the telephone had given him a good mem- 
ory for voices, and then told very simply of rec- 
ognizing the owner of one of the suspicious 
voices he had overheard in the very office where 
he now stood. 

‘‘Can you describe the man?” Mr. Sutton 
was evidently deeply interested. 

“ Certainly, sir,” and Horace ran over the de- 
tails of the suspect^s appearance. 

Several men in the group before him ex- 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


133 


changed glances. It was clear that Horace had 
succeeded in his description. 

** See here/^ the detective broke in, ** the gen- 
tleman you describe is well known to all of us. 
He holds a very prominent position and is above 
suspicion.” 

'' I don't know anything about that,” Horace 
persisted. 

“ It's perfectly clear now,” the detective went 
on. ** This boy is a very ingenious liar. It's 
an outrage to cast suspicion upon the gentleman 
he has described.” 

The entire group stood silent. Horace realized 
the seriousness of his position. 

Anything more ? ” Mr. Sutton asked. 

Horace told briefly of his experience, the 
conversation he had overheard from the tele- 
phone booth, and of the mysterious man with 
the brown hat and the warning he had received 
in Chinatown. 

“ This is the most ingenious liar I ever ran 
across,” broke in the detective. ** Surely none 
of you gentlemen believe a word of his tale ? ” 


134 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

“ Have you anything to add ? ” Mr. Sutton 
asked. 

If I may suggest ’’ Horace faltered. 

Go on.^^ 

** I neglected to tell you that I overheard these 
men talk about certain telephone booths. I took 
down the numbers. They may be of interest to 
you.^' 

“ Oh, let him go on.^^ The detective smiled. 

Let him complete his lies, by all means. It^s 
an easy matter to fake a lot of numbers.” 

Horace drew from his pocket the envelope on 
which he had jotted down the numbers and 
read them off. The effect on the group was 
startling. 

I donT know how this lad came by these 
numbers,” some one remarked, but the booths 
he mentions, or most of them, have been robbed.” 

A mere coincidence,” the detective sug- 
gested. 

** It^s hardly likely,” the first speaker ex- 
plained. ** There are thousands of booths. No, 
the boy could not hit on them by chance.” 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


135 


** Let me have those numbers again/’ Mr. 
Sutton spoke with a strange excitement. 

Horace read the numbers carefully from his 
notes. One of the men present drew a paper 
from his pocket and checked them off one by 
one. 

There are twenty numbers on the list,” the 
man with the paper continued. “ All but four 
of these have been robbed.” 

The detective had suddenly dropped his 
sneering manner. He was the first to speak. 

“ Here, let me cover the four booths, right 
away. There is a chance that this is a clue, 
after all.” 

“ By all means,” said Mr. Sutton. 

“ The robberies have always occurred at about 
the same hour in the evening as nearly as we 
can tell.” 

“ Have your men cover them at once,” Mr. 
Sutton ordered crisply. 

^'But what of the boy?” the detective sug- 
gested. “ Better let me take him along to po- 
lice headquarters.” 


136 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Not on your Mr. Sutton brought his 

fist down on the desk. 

‘‘ But he is a suspicious character. The 
clue may not lead to anything,” the detective 
urged. 

” The boy will be paroled on his own word.” 

** Simply ridiculous.” The detective grew 
angry again. Give him a chance like that, 
and it will be the last you ever see of him.” 

** The boy is free to go where he likes. ITl 
stand for him,” Mr. Sutton said firmly. 

“ Well, it’s for you to say,” the detective ad- 
mitted. 

” See here, my boy ” — Mr. Sutton turned to 
Horace — I am going to trust you. Will you 
promise me to be here at nine o’clock to-morrow 
morning without fail ? ” 

‘‘ I promise, Mr. Sutton.” 

** That’s all right, and I’m sure you will keep 
your promise.” 

“ I don’t know how to thank you, sir,” Hor- 
ace began. 

‘‘ I shall be amply rewarded by your proving 


THE THIKD DEGKEE 


137 


that I can trust you. Good-night, and don't 
worry." 

The first to leave the room was the detective, 
who rushed out to arrange for his men to cover 
the suspicious telephone booths. 

Horace seemed to walk on air as he reached 
the street. He had not realized his danger un- 
til he looked back upon it. The evidence had 
been so strong against him that it seemed almost 
a miracle that he should have been allowed to 
go free. 

He had walked for several blocks with the 
feeling of extreme elevation before the other 
side of the picture suggested itself to him. 
Although he found himself free to go where he 
wished he realized that the future was not free 
from danger. 

It was by no means certain that the detectives 
would succeed in finding the real thieves. They 
might have become suspicious and dropped all 
their plans. If Horace must face the detective 
on the next morning the danger might be re- 
peated all over again. 


138 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


In reviewing the situation Horace realized of 
course that he could easily disappear and thus 
avoid any danger of arrest. The thought was 
hateful to him and he decided at once that, 
come what might, he would be on hand the 
next day to face the music. 

The most dangerous of his enemies, it was 
clear, was Philips, whose voice he believed he 
had recognized over the telephone. After all, 
his recognition of the voice was not evidence. 
No court of law would give much weight to 
such testimony. 

The director moreover was a man of great in- 
fluence. It was clear from the way the group of 
men had exchanged glances that even suspicion 
in such a quarter was dangerous. No one had 
had the courage to so much as mention his name. 

Taken altogether, the situation was extremely 
daunting. As he walked to his room, Horace 
reviewed the situation again and again and 
finally decided that the good features were out- 
weighed by the dangerous ones. 

There was no sleep for him that night. He 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


139 


awoke again and again to face the perplexities 
which he must face on the morrow. Daylight 
found him still revolving the situation in his 
mind. One thing, however, remained clear. 
He had decided to report at Mr. Sutton^s office 
at nine o^clock as he had promised. 

Hastily dressing, he started to face his great 
adventure. The day was clearly to be one of 
the most momentous of his life. If he suc- 
ceeded in proving his innocence, the way would 
be prepared for position and success. If he did 
not, he had not the courage to face the possi- 
bilities of failure. 

Horace decided that he had no appetite for 
breakfast and was walking nervously down the 
block when a small boy collided violently with 
him. 

** Uxtre. Uxtre. Uxtre . . the small 

vender was shrieking. 

Horace dodged the boy and started on, his 
mind busy with its own thoughts. 

All about the telephone robbery I Uxtre. 
Uxtre.^^ 


140 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

Horace awoke with a start. In a moment he 
had grasped one of the papers and was scanning 
the head-lines. 

Across the two first columns ran a startling 
head-line which instantly caught his eye : 

** Great Telephone Robbery Unearthed.^^ 

Heigh, mister, whereas your penny ? 
shrieked the newsboy, for Horace in his ex- 
citement had entirely forgotten to pay for the 
paper. 

Ringleaders of Dangerous Gang Operating 
in New York Arrested,^^ next caught his eye. 

I say, mister, where’s my money ? ” the 
newsboy persisted. 

** Detective in Search of Men Higher Up,” 
next caught Horace’s eyes. 

The boy finally succeeded in waking his 
customer from his daze and sped on his way. 

Horace rapidly scanned the page. It ap- 
peared that the detectives had shadowed the 
booths under suspicion, and had caught three 
of the gang who had confessed their guilt, dis- 
closing a long line of robberies extending over 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


141 


several months. It was estimated that the rob- 
beries might total $50,000. 

There was no mention of Horace in the ac- 
count, for which he was very thankful. The 
detective, Horace^s friend of the third degree, 
was given all the credit for the arrests and 
highly praised throughout. 

Horace suddenly found that he had an ex- 
cellent appetite for his breakfast. 

Promptly at nine he entered Mr. Sutton’s 
office. The same group who had listened to his 
story the day before were waiting for him. 

‘‘Well, my boy, I’m delighted to see you.” 
Mr. Sutton greeted him warmly. 

Each one of the group shook hands with him 
in turn. The detective came last. 

“I take it all back.” The officer held out his 
hand. “And I’ll say this for you. You are 
the slickest article for your age I ever ran 
across I ” 

“ I congratulate you most sincerely,” Mr. 
Sutton said. “ I’m glad to know I did not place 
my confidence in the wrong person. The clue 


142 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOP 


you gave us worked out in every detail, that 
is, in almost every detail. We are still after 
the men who were directing the robberies, and 
in the meantime I will ask you to say nothing 
about your suspicions.” 

“ Certainly not,” Horace assented. 

“ I have already communicated with your 
banker friend. He has just returned and he 
wants to see you. I would suggest you call on 
him this morning.” 

Thank you, Mr. Sutton, I will.” 

“ Before you go, I must tell you that the 
officials of the telephone company feel under 
great obligations to you, and want to com- 
pensate you.” 

Oh, that^s all right,” Horace reassured 
him. 

Well, we’ll decide in a day or so what to do , 
about it. In the meantime I am glad to tell 
you that I have decided to place you on my 
staff for the present where you will have a 
chance to show what you know about the tele- 
phone business.” 


THE THIRD DEGREE 


143 


Horace lost no time in calling on his great 
banker friend. New faces greeted him in the 
office, for the assistant secretary and his pals 
faced a prison sentence. 

Mr. Rockwell greeted Horace cordially. 

“ Well, my boy,'’ he began as soon as Horace 
had been ushered into his private office, “ I 
have come back to find that I have much to 
thank you for." 

Oh, never mind about that, sir," Horace 
interrupted. 

I never forget a favor," the banker as- 
sured him. Now I find you have won a good 
position with promise of advancement in a 
work you love. I'm glad you have done this by 
your own unaided effort. Now, what can I do 
for you ? " 

Nothing, thank you, sir." 

Oh, but there must be something. Let me 
see. How is that invention of yours coming 
on ? " 

“ It is to be tested very soon." 

** Good I Let me know how the test comes 


lU THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


out. You may need a company to push it, and 
that is in my line.^^ 

“ I donT know how to thank you, sir.^* 

Don’t try. And, meanwhile, keep in touch 
with me. I shall always be glad to see you.” 


CHAPTER VIII 

The Struggles of the Young Inventor 
HE days which followed proved to be 



very busy and happy ones for Horace. 
Promptly every morning at eight o'clock he 
reported for duty, and each day brought some 
new and pleasant adventure. 

For the first few days he was entrusted only 
with simple tasks. His previous experience 
served him admirably. Although he was self- 
taught, his skill and judgment quickly won 
the respect of his superiors. 

The future seemed very bright, with every 
promise of ultimate success, except for two tiny 
black clouds on the distant horizon. Although 
the men actually engaged in robbing the tele- 
phone booths had been arrested and landed 
safely in jail, the ringleader, the man high up, 
had never been arrested. 


145 


146 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Although there was plenty of suspicion in 
the minds of several people concerning his 
identity, the case had never been pressed. The 
officer of the telephone company was too power- 
ful to be lightly attacked. 

The only evidence against him was the 
opinion of a single boy who thought he had 
recognized his voice over the telephone. No 
one thought of pushing such a case on such 
flimsy evidence. 

Horace was only too glad to let the affair 
drop, as he was beginning to be more and more 
absorbed in his new work. 

One evening as the two sat in Rudlow’s 
room, Horace persuaded his friend to give him 
the long promised story that had been told him 
by Thomas A. Watson of Bell, and the early 
struggles of the young inventor. Rudlow did 
not require much urging and began : 

In the experiments on the so-called * har- 
monic ^ telegraph, Bell had found that the reason 
why the messages got mixed up was inaccuracy 
in the adjustment of the pitches of the receiver 


STRUGGLES OF THE YOUNG INVENTOR 147 


springs to those of the transmitter. Bell always 
had to do this tuning himself, as Watson’s sense 
of pitch and knowledge of music were quite 
lacking. Mr. Bell was in the habit of observing 
the pitch of a spring by pressing it against his 
ear while the corresponding transmitter in a 
distant room was sending its intermittent cur- 
rent through the magnet of that receiver. He 
would then manipulate the tuning screw until 
that spring was tuned to accord with the pitch 
of the whine coming from the transmitter. All 
this experimenting was carried on in the upper 
story of the Williams building where they had 
a wire connecting two rooms perhaps sixty feet 
apart looking out on Court Street. 

** On the afternoon of June 2, 1875, they were 
hard at work on the same old job, testing some 
modification of the instruments. Things were 
badly out of tune that afternoon in that hot 
garret, not only with the instruments, but 
perhaps their enthusiasm and temper as well, 
though Bell was as energetic as ever. Watson 
had charge of the transmitters as usual, setting 


148 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

them squealing one after the other, while Bell 
was retuning the receiver springs one by one, 
pressing them against his ear as I have de- 
scribed. 

One of the transmitter springs Watson was 
attending to stopped vibrating and he plucked 
it to start it again. It didn't start and he kept 
on plucking it, when suddenly he heard a shout 
from Bell in the next room, and then out he 
came with a rush, demanding, ‘ What did you 
do then? Don't change anything. Let me 
see I ' He showed him. 

It was very simple. The make-and-break 
points of the transmitter spring he was trying 
to start had become welded together, so that 
when he snapped the spring the circuit had 
remained unbroken while that strip of magnet- 
ized steel, by its vibration over the pole of its 
magnet, was generating that marvelous concep- 
tion of Bell's — a current of electricity that varied 
in intensity precisely as the air was varying in 
density within hearing distance of that spring. 

That undulatory current had passed 


STRUGGLES OF THE YOUNG INVENTOR 140 


through the connecting wire to the distant re- 
ceiver which, fortunately, was a mechanism 
that could transform that current back into an 
extremely faint echo of the sound of the vibra- 
ting spring that had generated it, but what was 
still more fortunate, the right man had that 
mechanism at his ear during that fleeting 
moment, and instantly recognized the tran- 
scendent importance of that faint sound thus 
electrically transmitted. 

“ The shout Watson heard and BelTs excited 
rush into his room were the result of that rec- 
ognition. The speaking telephone was born at 
that moment. 

** Bell knew perfectly well that the mech- 
anism that could transmit all the complex 
vibrations of one sound could do the same for 
any sound, even that of speech. That experi- 
ment showed him that the complex apparatus 
he had thought would be needed to accomplish 
that long-dreamed result was not at all neces- 
sary, for here was an extremely simple mech- 
anism, operating in a perfectly obvious way. 


160 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


that could do it perfectly. All the experiment- 
ing that followed that discovery, up to the time 
the telephone was put into practical use, was 
largely a matter of working out the details. 
Watson made every part of that first telephone, 
but he didnT realize while he was working on 
it what a tremendously important piece of work 
he was doing. 

The two rooms in the attic were too near 
together for the test, as their voices would be 
heard through the air, so they ran a wire espe- 
cially for the trial from one of the rooms in the 
attic down two flights to the third floor where 
the main shop was, ending it near a work-bench 
at the back of the building. That was the first 
telephone line. You can well imagine that 
both their hearts were beating above the normal 
rate while they were getting ready for the trial 
of the new instrument that evening. Watson 
got more satisfaction from the experiment than 
Bell did, for shout as he would he could not 
make the other hear him, but Watson could 
catch his voice and almost the words. Watson 


STKUGGLES OF THE YOUNG INVENTOR 151 


rushed up-stairs and told what he had heard. 
It was enough to show Bell that he was on the 
right track, and before he left that night he 
gave directions for several improvements in the 
telephones for the next trial. 

“ The building where these first telephone 
experiments were made is still in existence. It 
is now used as a theater. The lower stories 
have been much altered, but that attic is still 
quite unchanged and not long ago Mr. Watson 
told me he stood on the very spot where he 
snapped those springs and helped test the first 
telephone. 

** Of course, in the struggle to expel the imps 
from the invention, an immense amount of 
experimenting had to be done, but it wasnT 
many days before they could talk back and 
forth and hear each other's voice. It is, how- 
ever, hard now to realize that it was not until 
the following March that they heard a complete 
and intelligible sentence. It made such an 
impression upon Mr. Watson that he wrote that 
first sentence in a book he has always preserved. 


152 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

The occasion had not been arranged and re- 
hearsed as the sending of the first message over 
the Morse telegraph had been years before, for 
instead of that noble first telegraphic message, 

* What hath God wrought ? * the first message of 
the telephone was : * Mr. Watson, please come 
here. I want you.^ Perhaps if Mr. Bell had 
realized that he was about to make a bit of 
history, he would have been prepared with a 
better sounding and more interesting sentence. 

Soon after the first telephones were made 
Bell hired two rooms on the top fioor of an in- 
expensive boarding-house at No. 5 Exeter Place, 
Boston, since demolished to make room for 
mercantile buildings. He slept in one room ; 
the other he fitted up as a laboratory. Watson 
ran a wire for him between the two rooms and 
after that time practically all his experimenting 
was done there. It was here one evening when 
Watson had gone there to help him test some 
improvement and to spend the night with him, 
that he heard the first complete sentence over 
the wire. Matters began to move more rapidly 


STRUGGLES OF THE YOUNG INVENTOR 153 


and daring the summer of 1876 the telephone 
was talking so well that one didn’t have to ask 
the other man to say it over again more than 
three or four times before one could understand 
quite well if the sentences were simple. 

“ Progress was rapid, and on October 9, 1876, 
they were ready to take the baby outdoors for the 
first time. They got permission from the Wal- 
worth Manufacturing Company to use their 
private wire running from Boston to Cambridge, 
about two miles long. Watson went to Cam- 
bridge that evening with one of their best tele- 
phones, and waited until Bell signaled from the 
Boston office on the Morse sounder. Then he 
cut out the sounder and connected in the tele- 
phone and listened. Not a murmur came 
through I Could it be that, although the thing 
worked all right in the house, it wouldn’t work 
under practical line conditions ? He knew that 
they were using the most complex and delicate 
electric current that had ever been employed for 
a practical purpose and that it was extremely 
‘ intense,’ for Bell had talked through a circuit 


154 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


composed of twenty or thirty human beings 
joined hand to hand. Could it be that these 
high tension vibrations leaking ofif at each in- 
sulator along the line had vanished completely 
before they reached the Charles River ? That 
fear passed through Watson^s mind as he 
worked over the instrument, adjusting it and 
tightening the wires in the binding posts, 
without improving matters in the least. Then 
the thought struck him that perhaps there was 
another Morse sounder in some other room. 
He traced the wires from the place they entered 
the building, and sure enough found a relay 
with a high resistance coil in the circuit. He 
cut it out with a piece of wire across the bind- 
ing posts and rushed back to the telephone and 
listened. That was the trouble. Plainly as one 
could wish came BelPs * Ahoy, ahoy ! ^ Watson 
ahoyed back, and the first long distance tele- 
phone conversation began. Skeptics had been 
objecting that the telephone could never com- 
pete with the telegraph, as its messages would 
not be accurate. For this reason Bell had ar- 


STEUGGLES OF THE YOUNG INVENTOR 155 


ranged that they should make a record of all 
that was said and heard that night, if they suc- 
ceeded in talking at all. They carried out this 
plan, and the entire conversation was published 
in parallel columns in the next morning’s Adver- 
tiser as the latest startling scientific achievement. 
Infatuated with the joy of talking over an 
actual telegraph wire, they kept up the conver- 
sation until long after midnight. It was a very 
happy young man that traveled back to Boston 
in the small hours with the telephone under his 
arm done up in a newspaper. Bell had taken 
his record to the newspaper office and was not 
at the laboratory when Watson arrived there, 
but when he came in there ensued a jubila- 
tion and war dance that elicited next morn- 
ing from their landlady, who wasn’t at all scien- 
tific in her tastes, the remark that they would 
have to vacate if they didn’t make less noise 
nights I ” 

Horace walked back and forth across the 
floor for a moment in silence after Rudlow had 
finished. 


166 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOP 

‘‘I wonder if my invention will ever be a 
hundredth part as successful ? he asked. 

‘‘ Your opportunity may come sooner than 
you expect/' replied Rudlow. 

And surely enough it did I 


CHAPTER IX 


A Crushing Blow 


S soon as Horace was thoroughly estab- 



^ lished in the offices he had been invited to 
demonstrate the invention he had brought from 
home before the company's engineers. The 
apparatus was carefully lifted from his suit case 
and placed on a table before the experts. 

The first inspection was disappointing. Sev- 
eral experienced men examined it closely, and 
plied Horace with many questions. They proved 
to be good listeners but none of them ven- 
tured any opinion as to the merits of the in- 
vention. 

'' You mustn^t feel badly.” It was Mr. Sut- 
ton who spoke. ** It takes time to perfect a 
thing of this sort.” 

The theory is entirely new,” one of the ex- 
perts added. 


167 


158 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Yes, entirely new,'^ said a third engineer. 

** I'm inclined to think," still another expert 
broke in, “ that the mechanism will fall down 
on distance work where it is needed." 

“ You say you have actually tested it ? " 

Oh, yes," said Horace ; it has been con- 
nected up in circuit scores of times." 

** How long a circuit ? " 

" About twenty miles," Horace confessed. 
That is what I say," one of the first speakers 
broke in. It may work all right for short 
distances. I dare say it will." 

Well, then, it remains to give it a real try- 
out." It was Mr. Sutton who made the sug- 
gestion. 

Before the engineers left it was decided to 
give the mechanism the official test. None of 
the men had been enthusiastic about the ap- 
paratus, and Horace naturally felt very much 
depressed about the result of the trial. His 
friend Rudlow sought to comfort him. 

Don't feel blue, old man," he said, when 
Horace confided in him. 


A CKUSHING BLOW 


159 


** But if there were anything in it those ex- 
perts would have known it, I suppose, Horace 
answered dejectedly. 

“ Oh, I don't know," was the ready answer. 

They don't know everything." 

You see, I've been working on the idea for 
so long that it breaks my heart to have to give 
it up." 

“ Give it up nothing I Who asked you to 
give it up? " 

“ Well, the experts said that by their man- 
ner." 

“ Perhaps they were sore because they hadn't 
thought of it themselves." 

** Nonsense I Men like that would scarcely 
be jealous of a boy's work." 

Several weeks passed without any news of the 
invention. Horace had handed it over to one 
of the men and explained its mechanism in de- 
tail. In the course of a few days he was as- 
sured the great test would be made and he 
would be invited to assist. 

Week after week went by without further 


160 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

news. Horace sought his friend Rudlow and 
asked his opinion. 

It sounds funny to me/' Rudlow said 
thoughtfully. ** How long has it been since 
they promised ? " 

More than five weeks." 

‘‘Have you spoken to Sutton about it? " 

“ Several times, but he says it is in the hands 
of men with whom he can't interfere." 

‘‘ Who?" 

‘‘I think he said the man in charge was 
named Walters." 

Rudlow pondered over the problem for sev- 
eral minutes and then beckoned Horace to leave 
the room. Once they were outside he looked 
about to see if any one were in possible ear-shot. 

‘‘ I have an idea," he said guardedly. 

“ Why all the mystery ? " Horace naturally 
inquired. 

“ You can't be too careful. Even the walls 
have ears sometimes." 

‘‘ Well, no one can hear you out here." 

“ Don't say a word to any one. I may be 


A CRUSHING BLOW 


161 


wrong. But I happen to know Walters is very 
close to your official friend of the mysterious 
telephone conversation.” 

I don't understand.” 

” Well, then I'll help you. Just a hint to 
Walters would hold up your invention indef- 
initely.” 

” You may be right.” 

” Sure I'm right. The more I think of it the 
more certain I feel.” 

” Well, what's to be done? ” 

” You've got me.” 

** Suppose I tell Mr. Sutton of my suspicion ? ” 

” Take my advice, old man, and say nothing 
about it ; not for the present, at least.” 

Why not?” 

” Dangerous ground. Sutton has not spoken 
of the suspicions about the man higher up 
lately, has he ? ” 

** Not a word.” 

” And what's more, he won't. Dangerous 
ground, I tell you. But that is just the kind of 
a trick that he played on you.” 


162 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


But must I lose my invention ? 

If I were you I would keep after Sutton, 
hard. That might bring about the trial. But 
about the other thing, not a word.’' 

The same day Horace asked Mr. Sutton again 
if he had heard any news of the trial of his in- 
vention. The boss was not in a talkative mood. 

‘‘ It’s entirely out of my hands, I tell you,” 
he explained. 

“ I hate to trouble you, sir,” Horace made 
haste to explain, but you know how my heart 
is set on it.” 

“ I am interested in it myself. When did 
you bring it in ? ” 

More than five weeks ago, sir.” 

Is it possible ? I didn’t realize how time 
flies. It’s funny we haven’t heard of it before. 
I’ll see about it.” 

“ Thank you very much.” 

Let me see. Who has that in charge ? ” 

Mr. Walters.” 

“ Mr. Walters. Oh ! ” 

From the shrewd look which suddenly flashed 


A CRUSHING BLOW 


163 


over his face Horace felt sure the suspicions 
Rudlow had suggested had crossed Mr. Sutton’s 
mind. 

I wouldn’t say anything about it,” Mr. 
Sutton cautioned, and left the room abruptly. 

Horace’s work did not bring him near the 
executive offices, so that he saw little or noth- 
ing of the owner of the mysterious voice. Only 
twice had he chanced to meet him, and then 
only for a moment. From the shrewd glance 
the director favored him with, Horace was 
certain, however, that his suspicions were only 
too well founded. 

Several weeks passed without incident, when 
one morning, to his great delight, Horace was 
summoned to the long-expected test of his 
invention. It was Mr. Sutton’s influence, after 
all, which had brought it about. As he ex- 
plained to Horace, he had urged the matter so 
strongly that Mr. Walters was obliged to fix a 
date. 

Horace carried the good news to Rudlow 
without delay. 


164 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** Deelighted, old man I ” Rudlow slapped 
Horace on the back enthusiasticaly. 

What about your suspicions now? ” Horace 
asked. 

** Same as ever. But old man Sutton has 
forced the issue.'^ 

^‘Your advice is the same about keeping 
quiet?'' 

** Just the same. Not a word." 

** Well, Fm willing to let bygones be bygones 
as long as it comes out all right," Horace as- 
sented. 

You seem to feel mighty certain about it 
coming out all right ? " 

" All I want is a fair trail." 

‘‘ Well, I hope you get it all right." 

** What do you mean by that? " 

** Oh, nothing in particular. Only if I were 
you I would look out for squalls, that's all." 

** I don't understand you." 

I really ought not to have said as much as I 
have, but now that I have gone this far I might 
as well go on." 


A €EUSHING BLOW 


165 


** Well, go on then/^ 

“ Has it occurred to you that your director 
friend is not the most anxious person in the 
world to see you succeed ? 

‘*Why, of course. Hasn^t he been holding 
up the whole thing?” 

” Sure. Well then, do you suppose he is 
anxious to have your invention work ? ” 

”You don't suppose he would do anything 
like that?” Horace said, aghast. 

‘‘It occurs to me that a wink to Walters 
would fix your machine all right.” 

‘‘I hadn't thought of such a possibility.” 
Horace gasped, suddenly enlightened to the 
seriousness of the situation. 

‘‘ Mind you, I don't say it is so.” Rudlow 
placed a comforting hand on Horace's shoulder. 

“ Nothing more likely.” 

‘‘Oh, yes, there are lots of things more 
likely,” Rudlow insisted. 

‘‘ What can I do now ? ” Horace asked 
blankly. 

‘‘ You might ask Sutton to have them let 


166 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


you attend to the details of the test, and then 
you could stay beside it and watch it.” 

“ Thanks for the tip. ITl do so, you may be 
sure.” 

Mr. Sutton received the request kindly, and 
promised to arrange matters. Soon after Horace 
was summoned to Mr. Walters' office, and re- 
quested to assist the workmen in arranging the 
test. 

He accepted with alacrity. His invention, 
which appeared to be in perfect condition, had 
been set up on a table in a large room and 
the preparations seemed very complete. Horace 
looked at the shiny mechanism with a thrill of 
pride. 

“Anything to suggest?” one of the experts 
asked. 

Horace quickly tested the various levers of 
his machine. They seemed to be all in perfect 
working order. 

“ I don't find anything, sir,” he replied. 

“ The more I see of your machine the better I 
like it,” the expert volunteered. 


A CRUSHING BLOW 


167 


“Just what do you claim for it?^^ asked an- 
other. 

I believe it will clarify the sound more than 
fifty per cent/^ Horace explained. 

“ ThaVs a big claim, young man.^^ 

“I know it, sir. But I have tested it.“ 

“ Let me see. In that case your invention 
will practically double the effective range of the 
present telephone?^' the first engineer sug- 
gested. 

“ I hope so, sir.” 

“ That^s an awfully big claim. Do you know 
what that means in money ? ” 

“ It ought to be valuable, I think,” Horace 
said modestly. 

“ Valuable I Why, young man, if what you 
claim is based on facts there^s a fortune in it for 
you.” 

Mr. Walters, who had been an attentive lis- 
tener, took a hand in the conversation. 

“ Of course, we all want our young friend to 
succeed, but it must be considered that many 
experts have been working for a long time on 


168 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


this problem, and the chances of a newcomer, 
and an inexperienced one, making such a dis- 
covery are rather small/' 

** Don't be down-hearted," said one of the 
men kindly to Horace. 

“ Thank you, but I'm prepared to be dis- 
appointed," Horace said. 

And when is the test to be made ? " some 
one asked. 

‘‘To-morrow morning at ten o'clock," Mr. 
Walters announced. 

‘‘ We'll be here, I promise you." 

A moment later the men filed out of the 
room, and Horace with the rest. He noticed 
that Mr. Walters was left behind alone. 

Promptly at ten the next morning Horace 
entered the room where the great test was to be 
made. Rudlow was by his side. 

The room was well filled and Horace was 
surprised to see not only the entire group of 
experts present as before, but many new faces. 
Among these he recognized Mr. Philips. 

The apparatus had been connected up in a 


A CRUSHING BLOW 


169 


long distance circuit in order that the test 
might be a very severe one. 

A dozen or more telephones had been placed 
in the circuit so that every one present might 
listen in on the messages which were to test the 
invention. 

I think we are all ready/^ Mr. Walters 
announced. 

There was a general murmur of assent. 

“ I wish every gentleman present would take 
a receiver/^ Mr. Walters added. 

They all obeyed, and stood waiting. 

** We have gone to a lot of trouble to test this 
invention, Mr. Walters explained. We want 
the test to be very thorough.^^ 

I want to explain in advance.'^ It was 
Mr. Sutton who spoke. Several of us who 
have examined the invention think very well of 
it. It has worked admirably on short circuits, 
and we have every reason to believe it will do 
good work in the severe test arranged for it to- 
day.^' 

** All ready ? ” Mr. Walters asked. 


170 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOK 


A dozen receivers were raised. 

“ As Mr. Sutton has explained, the previous 
tests have been for short distances only. The 
invention’s value depends upon the test now to 
be made. 

I will switch the instrument in on the 
Chicago circuit and that will decide its value in 
a moment. 

‘‘ Now, gentlemen, first listen to a conversa- 
tion being carried on with Chicago without the 
use of the new instrument.” 

Mr. Walters manipulated a switchboard for a 
moment and the voice from Chicago reached 
every ear. 

That is a Chicago message under normal 
conditions,” Mr. Walters announced. “ Now I 
will bring in the new invention. Ready ? ” 

There was a curious silence. For several mo- 
ments not a sound could be heard in the room. 

” Well, what is the decision ? ” Mr. Walters 
inquired. 

'' The sound is almost completely lost,” some 
one announced. 


A CRUSHING BLOW 


171 


** I can^t hear it at all/' said another. 

It was true. Horace, listening with the 
closest attention, could scarcely detect a sound. 

“ I am sorry to say it is not satisfactory," Mr. 
Walters announced. 

Horace felt a sudden tightening about his 
heart. 

“ Try it again," suggested Mr. Sutton. 

" I shall be very glad to," Mr. Walters as- 
sented. 

Another test followed. It was no more 
successful than the first. 

“ I think that settles it," Mr. Walters re- 
marked. 

Several of the men rose to leave the room. 
Horace had lost. 

A sudden tug at his elbow made Horace turn. 
It was Rudlow. 

" Ask them to let you fix it," he whispered. 

" Oh, what’s the use now ? " Horace was 
almost in tears. 

Don’t you see? Walters made the connec- 
tions." 


172 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

The room was rapidly clearing. 

Horace stepped forward. 

** I beg your pardon/^ he began, ** but may I 
look at my machine for a moment? ” 

WhaPs that ? ” Mr. Walters had suddenly 
stepped before him. 

I canT quite give it up yet, sir,^’ Horace 
pleaded. ‘‘ I want to try a new adjustment. It 
will only take a moment.^^ 

** We have no time to waste.^^ Mr. Walters 
spoke crisply. 

“ It will only take a moment, sir I 
You have had your chance. It cost money 
to make these tests and we have given you a 
good deal of our valuable time.^' 

There was nothing left for Horace to do but 
fall back. He was so weighed down with his 
disappointment that his usually keen eyes failed 
to serve him at this critical moment. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Walters stepped directly in 
front of the table so that his body practically 
hid the instrument. Rudlow, with a hand on 
Horace's arm, drew him to one side. 


A CRUSHING BLOW 


173 


** Look quick/^ he whispered excitedly. Do 
those switches at the bottom look right ? ** 

Horace knew every detail of his invention as 
well as the back of his hand. His experienced 
eye was directed to the switches. A glance was 
sufficient. 

“ No wonder it didn't work," he gasped. 

“They have been monkeying with the ma- 
chine I I thought as much," Rudlow suggested. 

Horace stepped forward indignantly. 

“ Mr. Walters I Mr. Sutton I " he began ex- 
citedly. 

Mr. Walters was beside him in an instant. 

“ I must ask you to leave the room at once," 
he ordered peremptorily. 

“ There is some mistake," Horace urged. “ If 
you will let me adjust my invention. Pm sure it 
will work." 

Several of the men who were still in the room 
turned at the sound of Horace's voice, raised in 
excited argument. 

“ I can quite understand our young friend’s 
disappointment." Mr. Walters raised his voice 


174 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


so that all could hear. ** But I am afraid we 
cannot give him and his invention any more 
time.'^ 

But if you please, sir Horace began. 

I think that will be all,'^ Mr. Walters broke 
in. “ Mr. Philips, I think you agree with me ? ’’ 

The two men exchanged glances. 

“ I have no further time for it,'^ Mr. Philips 
added curtly. 

In a moment the room was cleared and Hor- 
ace, almost in tears, was obliged to leave his 
precious invention in the hands of the enemy. 


CHAPTER X 


An Amazing Voyage 

‘‘T^AKE it easy, old man/^ Rudlow patted 
Horace on the shoulder affectionately. 

** I’ve lost my great chance I ” Horace was 
inconsolable. 

Not so fast I Not so fast I It may come out 
all right yet.” 

” Not with those men against me.” 

” It’s tough luck, all right.” 

” I see it all now. They tampered with my 
mechanism so it couldn’t possibly work.” 

** I suspected it when we went into the room,” 
Rudlow explained. 

” What did you see ? ” 

” Why, didn’t you see Philips and Walters 
standing side by side ? ” 

** I didn’t notice.” 

** Well, I did, all right. They stood so they 
175 


176 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


could watch you and speak to one another all 
the time/^ 

** I was too busy to notice/' 

“ And I saw them exchange glances several 
times. They thought no one was watching 
them." 

** Well, it's all over now I " Horace shook his 
head sadly. 

** All over nothing." 

** Why, what hope is there? " 

** See here, Horace, don't take it so badly I 
You still hold several very valuable points in 
this game." 

** I don't see it." 

** Well, I do ! I bet you come out all right 
yet." 

** It's kind of you, but I'm afraid you are 
merely trying to cheer me up." 

** Nothing of the sort. And as soon as you 
get over this first shock you will see it as I do." 

What can I hope to do against such opposi- 
tion ? " Horace asked hopelessly. 

I don't see just at the moment, but with the 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 1Y7 

information we have there must be some wav 
out/^ 

“ They are too strong for us/^ 

There must be a weak spot in their armor 
somewhere/^ Rudlow persisted. 

** No, I am discouraged. The next thing 
they’ll have me fired.” 

Rudlow laughed. 

** You are a croaker I ” But in his heart he 
knew there was indeed reason for Horace’s ap- 
prehension. 

Shortly afterward Mr. Sutton made a flying 
trip to Washington. On the day after his re- 
turn he was called away by one of the frequent 
emergency summons, and Horace and Rudlow 
accompanied him. 

When the work of repair to the circuit had 
been completed, they found it was too late to 
return to the office, and Mr. Sutton invited the 
two boys to be his guests at a near-by restaurant. 

After their meal had been finished, he lighted 
a cigar, and said with a twinkle, ''I am going to 
tell you of one of the most remarkable experi- 


178 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


ences of my life, which occurred in Washing- 
ton/^ 

Go on I ” urged both his listeners. 

I went to Washington to attend a dinner 
given in honor of the achievements in the art 
of telephony through the forty years that have 
passed since Alexander Graham Bell first solved 
the problem of sound transmission by elec- 
tricity. 

** The telephone paid tribute to Dr. Bell, its 
father, by transmitting with equal fidelity the 
sound of music, the roar of breakers, and the 
intonations of the human voice. It paid its 
tribute to President Vail by proving that it, 
indeed, had grown to be a national institution 
in its geography, in its use, and in its possibili- 
ties. It paid its tribute to the great engineering 
staff, headed by John J. Carty, by demonstrat- 
ing that it had, through them, ceased longer to 
be dependent on wires, but could make the 
Hertzian waves its messengers — messengers 
which can travel eight times around the earth 
between the beats of the human heart. 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 


179 


** The big banquet-hall of the New Willard is 
nearly a city block long and perhaps sixty feet 
wide. Eight hundred people were seated 
around the tables of the huge gridiron, each 
with a telephone receiver at his elbow. At the 
one end of the great hall was a large map, with 
electric lights marking every junction station 
on the transcontinental voice highway, from 
Florida to Puget Sound, and from Ottawa, 
Canada, to El Paso, Texas. 

“ After the courses had been served, the chief 
of the engineering staff of the American Tele- 
phone and Telegraph Campany, John J. Carty, 
announced that the assembled guests would 
take a voice voyage to Seattle, Washington. 
Eight hundred receivers went to eight hundred 
wondering ears and the transcontinental roll- 
call began. 

'' ' Hello, Washington, D. C./ said Mr. Carty. 

“ * Hello, Mr. Carty ; this is Washington ; 
Truesdale speaking,' came the answer. And 
the bulb indicating the nation's capital on the 
electric map grew bright. 


180 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


“ * Hello, Pittsburgh,’ called Mr. Carty. 

** ^ Hello, Mr. Carty ; this is Pittsburgh ; 
Meighan talking,’ came the reply. 

** ‘ What is the temperature there ? ’ inquired 
Mr. Carty ; ‘ and the weather ? ’ 

‘'One by one, without a moment’s loss of 
time, they came in — Chicago, Omaha, Denver, 
Salt Lake City, Pocatello, Boise, Walla Walla, 
Portland, and finally Seattle — and, in the time 
that it takes to tell it, the guests had swept on 
an ear voyage to the Northwest Pacific region, 
and eleven twinkling lights, aglow on the elec- 
tric map, showed in how many places the diners 
had been transported in those few minutes. In 
truth, the human voice was speeding from 
ocean to ocean, stirring the electric waves from 
one end of the country to the other, and greet- 
ing every ear that was on the line to hear. 

“ After thus sweeping across the continent, 
the dinner party started upon an invasion of 
foreign soil. In less time than it takes to tell it 
the voice dispatchers had perfected a through 
route from the capital of the greatest nation to 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 


181 


the capital of her greatest neighbor. Washing- 
ton was in whispering distance of Ottawa. 

“ And from Ottawa came messages of inter- 
national amity and good-will that were heartily 
reciprocated by all present. ‘The Postmaster 
General of Canada sends greetings/ came the 
voice from Ottawa, ‘ to the Postmaster General 
of the United States, and trusts that for the 
common good of the two neighboring peoples 
the cordial relations which have always existed 
between the two departments will endure for all 
time.' 

“And then from the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert 
Borden, Prime Minister, came hearty greetings 
to the National Geographic Society, a tribute to 
its work, and a word of hope and forecast for its 
future. 

“ ‘ My greetings,' read the message, ‘ to the 
National Geographic Society and my congratu- 
lations on their achievements of another suc- 
cessful year. In speaking through word of 
mouth across so many miles, it is a pleasure to 
recall that the distinguished scientist and in- 


182 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


ventor who has made this wonderful feat pos^ 
sible and who has been one of the guiding 
spirits of your Society, has also had ties of close 
association with Canada. One of the objects of 
the National Geographic Society is to increase 
our knowledge and comprehension of the 
various countries of the world. The value of 
such knowledge is inestimable, and I would 
bespeak for your efforts an even greater in- 
fluence and appreciation in the future.^ 

“ ‘ There shall be no North and no South, ^ 
declared a patriot years ago ; and there was not 
at the geographic dinner, for as soon as the 
voice-visit to Ottawa was over the party pro- 
ceeded to the Rio Grande at El Paso. Flashing 
by Pittsburgh, Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Trini- 
dad and Albuquerque, with a word of greeting 
to each, Washington was in a minute speaking 
into the ears of men hundreds of miles apart 
and hearing a chorus of voices from five dif- 
ferent states. 

'‘‘Is General Pershing there? ^ inquired Mr. 
Carty of El Paso. 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 


183 


*‘*Yes, sir/ answered Mr. Roach, several 
thousand miles away. 

“ ^ Hello, General Pershing I ' 

* Hello, Mr. Carty I * 

** * How’s everything on the border?' 

All’s quiet on the border.’ 

“ ^ Did you realize you are talking with eight 
hundred people ? ’ 

“ ' No, I did not,’ answered General Pershing. 

* If I had known it, I might have thought of 
something worth while to say.’ 

‘ Well, you know it now, so you can say it,’ 
advised Mr. Carty. 

<< < My greetings to the National Geographic 
Society. I have attended some of its great 
dinners and know what impressive functions 
they are. I am a member of the Society and 
esteem it a rare privilege to help further its 
splendid work.’ 

** And there were cheers at the sentiment, just 
as though the words had come from the speak- 
ers’ table instead of from El Paso. 

^ General Scott, Acting Secretary of War, 


184 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

and Chief of Staff, is here, General Pershing,* 
said Mr. Carty, * and he will talk with you.* 

But General Scott was too modest. He 
could fight Indians, put an army through its 
maneuvers, and march into the * inferno of a 
fight * without turning a hair, but he could not 
talk to one of his generals over a telephone on 
such an occasion as this. 

‘‘After El Paso, Texas, came Jacksonville, 
Florida, and while a chilling March rain was 
falling in Washington, it was a balmy summery 
night in Jacksonville, with the thermometer 
registering 70-odd. 

“ And then the tide turned again. A switch 
in Washington moved and the voice-tide turned 
from the far Southeast to the extreme West. 
To Salt Lake City the route was the same as 
we had taken to Seattle, but there a switch 
was thrown and we were routed to San Fran- 
cisco. 

“ When we got there lights were shining on 
the electric map at twenty-one places in seven- 
teen states and one foreign country. We had 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 


185 


visited them all on our dash around the country 
on the wings of the electric wave. 

“ When we arrived in San Francisco, the 
toastmaster, Secretary of the Interior, Franklin 
K. Lane, informed that city that the whole 
National Geographic Society envied those who 
lived there. 

“ And then came Captain Gilmer, U. S. N., to 
the San Francisco telephone, and soon the head 
of the Navy at the Atlantic seaboard was con- 
versing with one of his captains on the Pacific 
seaboard as though they were in adjoining 
offices instead of thousands of miles apart. 

“ And then the voice of war yielded place 
to the voice of filial affection, and out of the 
Washington receivers fioated a piping ^ Hello, 
mamma I How are you and daddy? I^m just 
fine.^ It was little Larry Harris, five years old, 
in San Francisco, calling to his mother, who, 
visiting in Washington, was one of the guests 
attending the Society's dinner. 

Mrs. Lawrence W. Harris : ‘ Where is 

King ? Is King there ? ' 


186 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


King : * I am, mamma/ 

“ Mrs. Harris : ‘ Hello, King ; how are you ? 
King, we will see you in about two weeks. 
Your daddy wishes to speak to you.' 

“ Mr. Harris : * Hello, King ; how are you, 
niy boy ? Who are you with ? ' 

King : * I am with grandma.' 

** Mr. Harris : Well, you tell your grandma 
that this is no time for her to be out. Good- 
bye, boy.' 

Mr. Carty : * Mr. Harris didn't realize that 
it is now only half-past seven in San Francisco.' 

“ The voice of the little fellow and his brother 
King, aged three, captivated eight hundred 
people and brought earnest applause as they at 
half-past seven in San Francisco said good-night 
to their parents at half-past ten in Washington. 

After the conversation was done, Wash- 
ington began to say good-night to all of the 
stations with which it had talked, starting with 
San Francisco and coming East. 

“ ‘ Good-night, San Francisco,' said Mr. 
Carty. 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 187 

“ * Good-night, Mr. Carty,^ answered San 
Francisco, as her light on the electric map be- 
came dark. And so we said good-night to all 
of them. 

“ And then came a new series of demonstra- 
tions. Up to that time we were talking over 
wires. The messages were not free to move 
anywhere but along particular wires to particular 
places. 

‘‘ Now sounds were to be mounted on steeds 
of inconceivable fleetness and dispatched 
through the circumambient to everywhere in 
general and New York in particular. 

‘‘When a wireless telephone turns loose a 
word into space, it does not travel through a 
lane to the point of destination ; rather it 
spreads itself north, south, east, west, and 
literally fills the air with sound ; so that we 
might, instead of ‘ Those that have ears, let 
them hear,^ now say, ‘ Those that have wire- 
less telephones, let them hear.' That is why 
Honolulu was able to eavesdrop on a conversa- 
tion between Arlington and Paris. Dr. Bell has 


188 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

surely brought the eavesdroppers into their own 
when he has made it possible for them to hear 
in Honolulu what Washington says to Paris. 

The first of these demonstrations was the 
talking over a circuit made up of two sections 
of wire and one of wireless. The banquet-room 
was connected by wire with Arlington wireless 
station. There the messages were transferred to 
the air. At New York they were picked up 
again by the wires and brought back to the 
banquet-hall. 

** And as the people at the far ends of the hall 
held their receivers to one ear and listened to 
Mr. Carty and Secretary Lane talk into their 
telephones, the sound in the receiver seemed 
the voice, and the sound in the air the echo, so 
rapidly were the words conveyed on their four 
hundred and fifty mile circuit. 

But this was not yet the supreme test — the 
test that brought the guests to their feet with 
their hearts beating fast, souls aflame with pa- 
triotism, and minds staggered as wonder fol- 
lowed wonder as the minutes sped. 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 


189 


** Now a screen was stretched across the end 
of the banquet-hall. A moving picture ma- 
chine was wheeled into action, and the Star 
Spangled Banner flashed its thrilling beauty 
upon the screen. 

“ Over at Arlington wireless station a phono- 
graph began to play. Out of its vibrant throat 
leaped a nation^s patriotism expressed in song. 
A wireless transmitter gathered the notes and 
gave them to the Hertzian waves. The sounds 
that the phonograph itself released into the air 
were soon lost. They were as much slower 
than the wireless impulses they started as a 
snail is slower than the fastest big-gun pro- 
jectile. 

For nature made sound travel three hun- 
dred and sixty yards a second, while the wire- 
less telephone has given it a speed of 186,000 
miles a second. Thus a wireless message en- 
velops the whole earth in the time that a sound 
in its native element spreads over a circle one 
hundred and forty-four feet in diameter. Dr. 
Bell has made the human voice able to travel 


190 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


nearly a million times as fast as it could before 
he invented the telephone. 

It was less than the proverbial twinkling 
of an eye between the utterance of the sound by 
the phonograph at Arlington and its receipt in 
the eight hundred receivers in the banquet- 
hall ; and as it floated in gently and softly, 
yet clearly and impressively, its stirring appeal 
moved every soul to song, and the hundreds 
present joined in our national air: 

^ And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall 
wave 

O’er the land of the free and the home of the 
brave.’ 

** It was an inspiring moment, quickening the 
pulse, electrifying the mind and causing waves 
of enthusiasm to sweep over the banquet-hall as 
billows over the sea. 

It was then that Dr. Bell exclaimed : * We 
have just been hearing The Star Spangled Ban- 
ner by wireless and the audience has joined 
in singing it. It occurs to me that by means 
of the telephone the millions of people of the 


AN AMAZING VOYAGE 


191 


United States may soon sing ** The Star Span- 
gled Banner all at the same time/ 

‘‘ And then came the speech-making ; but it 
was a subdued, an overwhelmed, a reverent 
audience that the speakers addressed. The spirit 
of mirth and levity had no place among people 
who had witnessed such marvelous exhibitions/^ 
Mr. Sutton pushed back his chair, and glanced 
at his watch. 

“ Gracious, I didnT know that I had been 
talking so long I ” he said. 

“ If you have any more stories like that you 
have just told us, I am ready to listen all 
night ! laughed Rudlow. 

** And count me in, too I echoed Horace. 


CHAPTER XI 
The Dictaphone 

D uring the noon hour, about a week later, 
Horace and Rudlow were walking rather 
aimlessly down lower Broadway after their 
lunch. Both were busy with their thoughts, 
and for several blocks had wandered on with- 
out a word. 

Suddenly Horace grasped his friend’s arm, 
and jerked him to one side. Without a word 
he hurried him into the doorway of a great 
skyscraper. 

Follow that man I ” he whispered ex- 
citedly. 

The boys hurried on, pushing their way 
through the crowd. It was only with the 
greatest difficulty they kept the hurrying figure 
before them in sight. 

At the end of a corridor the man they fol- 
192 


THE DICTAPHONE 


193 


lowed slowed his pace, and the boys, by dodg- 
ing behind a pillar, managed to keep him in 
sight without being seen. 

** Who is it?” Rudlow whispered. 

** My friend of the brown hat.” 

His hat is black this time.” 

** No matter ; it’s the right man, all right.” 

** What’s the scheme? ” 

“ I haven’t any,” Horace explained hurriedly. 
“ But I mean to stick to him this time.” 

** They didn’t catch him when they rounded 
up the gang, did they ? ” 

** No, he was too clever for them, but he 
won’t get away from me this time I ” Horace 
looked very determined. 

*‘You can’t have him arrested here, you 
know,” Rudlow suggested. 

** Of course not, but if I stick close I’ll learn 
where to find him next time.” 

** I’m with you,” Rudlow assured him. 

It proved to be a long wait. The mysterious 
man of the Chinese restaurant seemed in no 
hurry. Once he had reached the end of the cor- 


194 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

ridor, he strolled back and forth at a leisurely 
pace. 

He was evidently on the lookout for some 
one. Every few moments he glanced about 
him keenly at the faces in the crowd. 

See here, Rudlow,’^ Horace suggested, “ he 
doesn’t know you. Let’s separate. We can 
watch him better if we are apart.” 

“ Good idea,” Rudlow readily assented. ‘‘ You 
stay here in this alcove, and I’ll stroll nearer. 
If we are separated. I’ll meet you later at the 
office.” 

The plan soon proved to be an excellent one. 
After strolling about for perhaps ten minutes 
more, the suspect suddenly darted into the 
crowd. Horace, being some distance away, lost 
sight of him completely. After walking the 
length of the corridor several times, he was 
obliged to give up the chase. 

For fully half an hour he continued to lurk 
about the building but without catching a 
glimpse of his acquaintance. Reluctantly he 
sought the street and returned to the office. 


THE DICTAPHONE 


196 


He hoped to find Rudlow waiting for him, 
perhaps of news of better success, but his friend 
was nowhere to be seen. An hour passed and 
still the other failed to appear. 

Horace and Rudlow had obtained permission 
to stay away from their work for the morning 
on account of the tests, but at the hour of noon 
both would be obliged to report for duty. There 
was nothing to do but to wait. 

Twelve o’clock came but Rudlow failed to 
put in an appearance. There was no employee 
of the company more dependable than Rudlow, 
and this failure to report wore a serious aspect. 
Horace felt sure that only a very serious acci- 
dent would keep his friend away. 

When the time came to report Horace had no 
choice but to start his work as usual. The fore- 
man was surprised to find Rudlow absent. It 
was the first time in his life he had failed to ap- 
pear on time. 

The afternoon passed uneventfully. Six 
o^clock arrived when Horace quit for the day. 
There was still no news of Rudlow, and after 


196 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


waiting about the offices for an hour or more 
Horace reluctantly ate a lonely supper. 

Rudlow lived out of town and Horace knew 
that it would be useless to go to his home. 

In a very dejected mood he finally started for 
his home in Brooklyn. He had hoped against 
hope that some news of Rudlow might await 
him there but there was none. The evening 
dragged on slowly, and for want of something 
better to do, Horace finally went to bed. 

A loud knock on his door awoke him from a 
sound sleep. He jumped to his feet and lit 
the gas. The clock behind the gas jet showed 
that it was past three o’clock. 

A moment later he had unlocked the door 
and Rudlow stood before him. 

‘‘Great heaven, old man, I’m glad to see 
you 1 ” he gasped. 

Rudlow grasped his hand and closed the door 
behind him. 

“ Well, I’m glad to be here, you bet ! ” Rud- 
low said heartily. 

“Are you all right?” 


THE DICTAPHONE 


197 


** Oh, I am all right, and I have the greatest 
news/^ 

** Where on earth have you been ? 

** IPs a long story. I've been in some queer 
places." 

Sure you are all right, old man ? " 

Put your mind at rest I I am." 

“ I would never have forgiven myself if any- 
thing had happened to you on my account." 

Lots of things happened to me on your 
account, old boy. But let me begin at the be- 
ginning." 

I'm listening." 

“ Well, that chap was your friend all right. 
I proved that and several other things you will 
be glad to hear about." 

The man with the brown hat?" 

** The same, although it took me some time to 
make sure of it. When he bolted in the build- 
ing down-town, I was only a few feet from him. 
Lucky, or I should have lost him, sure. 

** He evidently saw the man he was looking 
for, and hurried after him. They met and 


198 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

started off at a brisk pace up-town with your 
humble servant at their heels. 

They tried to shake me, too. I mean they 
doubled on their tracks, evidently afraid some 
one might be following. Bad conscience.^^ 

** How did you stick ? 

** It was some job, I can tell you. They 
walked at a brisk pace for a while, then dodged 
into a building, then out a back door, and 
finally took an elevated train. Well, where do 
you think they led me ? ” 

Give it up.'^ 

“ Chinatown. They thought that would be 
the safest place in the city for a quiet, uninter- 
rupted talk, you see. So I lunched in China- 
town, at the next table, and they never sus- 
pected.” 

Do we know the other man ? ” 

Never saw him, but he was one of the gang, 
all right. I heard enough of their talk first and 
last to make sure of that.” 

“ The telephone booth robbers ? ” 

Sure.” 


THE DICTAPHONE 


199 


How did you manage to listen in ? 

“ The tables at the Chinese restaurant, you 
may remember, are very close together. I sat 
near them and pretended to fall asleep. Good 
scheme, eh ? ” 

You beat the detectives at their own 
game.^^ 

“Just wait till I am through. I overheard 
enough. Those two fellows belonged to the 
original gang. They are deep in it and they 
are still at it.^^ 

“ You donT say so?*' 

“ What's more, I stuck to them and saw them 
operate. Caught them with the goods." 

“ I thought the police rounded them all up." 

“ Not quite all. And old Philips is in it 
right up to the hilt, and I have the goods on 
him too." 

Horace shook his friend's hand enthusiastic- 
ally. 

“ We have enough evidence now to make a 
vacancy in the company." 

Horace shook hands all over again. 


200 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

^‘But you didn’t see all of this in China- 
town ? ** 

'' I should say not. From what I overheard 
I was sure there was a little game on for the 
evening, and I meant to be there.” 

So you kept them in sight? ” 

** I did. It was an awful job too. When 
they got through their dinner they started off 
down-town again. For the rest of the time I 
didn’t get near enough to get anything. It 
would have spoiled everything if they had seen 
me. They knew me by that time. 

“ So I trailed along down-town, and where do 
you think they took me ? ” 

** Give it up.” 

Well, it was an office down-town and there 
they met old Walters.” 

** Could he have seen you ? ” 

“ Never fear. I managed to keep them in 
sight until they disappeared in an office. They 
were there for about three hours. I watched 
the door from a safe place down the hall.” 

How do you know Walters was there ? ” 


THE DICTAPHONE 


201 


** I saw him come out. He was alone, to be 
sure. Trust him. I reckon iPs good enough 
evidence that he was in there with them for 
three hours.^* 

And then what? ” 

Well, I was in a quandary whether to follow 
Walters or wait for one of them, but I decided 
Brown Hat was the best chance. Lucky I did, 
too I 

** They came out, one at a time, and looked 
about sharply. I was not in evidence, you may 
be sure. When Brown Hat judged the coast 
was clear they started off at a brisk pace.^^ 

** Brown Hat is not in the telephone com- 
pany, is he ? 

Oh, no. He is too clever for that. The 
robbery is done by deputy.” 

Wonderful I Go on.” 

Well, he had several private errands to fill 
the rest of the afternoon, which have nothing to 
do with our story. I kept after him. Then he 
had dinner. I was still on the job. 

** I had learned that the actual robberies 


202 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

would not take place till after midnight. He 
put in most of the evening at a moving picture 
show, and so did I. 

Of course, I couldn’t get away for a mo- 
ment, or I would have telephoned to you.” 

** Oh, I understand that.” 

After the movies, the real entertainment 
began. The fellow worked entirely alone. I 
made sure of that.” 

You mean to say you saw him break into 
the cash boxes ? ” 

“I certainly did. I can tell you where they 
are. He made a good haul, too.” 

** Did you have him arrested ? ” 

** It seems funny, perhaps, but I did not. I 
have a scheme worth two of that.” 

^‘Whatisit?” 

‘‘Well, you see, I know just where I can put 
my hands on the fellow. My afternoon’s de- 
tective work gave me that much information. 
I let him go ahead because I mean to round 
them all up together.” 

Horace shook hands once more. 


THE DICTAPHONE 


203 


** Now, here is my plan. I made sure that 
Philips and this chap have never met. The 
work has been done through a third party 
every time.’^ 

What of that?'^ 

** You'll see in a moment. Suppose I walk 
into Philips' office and say I'm Burgess ? " 

‘‘ You would have an interesting interview, 
no doubt, but how will that help you ? " 

Well, I am not a telephone man for nothing. 
What do you say to a dictaphone ? " 

Great I Just the thing I And we'll have 
Sutton and several others listen in on the 
interview." 

I haven't worked out the plan yet. It's 
going to be hard to get into Philips' private 
office long enough to rig up a dictaphone. I 
am not sure it can be done." 

We can beat that." Horace had the light 
of success in his eye. “ You will carry the con- 
trivance in with you." 

“ I don't understand ? " 

“I have it. I will rig up the receiver in 


^04 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

your hat. You will hold that in your hand 
when you walk in. Get me ? 

No, I don’t. What about the wiring? ” 

** Listen to my scheme. You remember that 
office ? The desk is just beside the door.” 

What has that got to do with it ? ” 

“ It’s perfectly simple. The wire runs from 
your hat up your sleeve down through the leg 
of your trousers, and falls behind you on the 
floor.” 

‘‘Great I” 

“ Now when you go in, it will only be neces- 
sary for you to take a step or two inside the 
door. The man who sits at the desk can’t see 
the floor, so he won’t know about the wire. 

“ There will be some one outside to watch the 
wire. It will trail along the floor and into the 
next office where we can connect it up with 
several receivers. It is a very simple connec- 
tion, you know.” 

“ Oh, there is no trouble about that.” 

“ And you think you can trick Philips into 
saying something damaging ? ” 


THE DICTAPHONE 


206 


** Leave that to me/’ 

The next morning, or rather a few hours later 
the same day, when the boys reported at the 
office, they found every one in a great state of 
excitement. During the night, they were told, 
there had been a number of daring robberies to 
which the detective had not the slightest clue. 

It was some time before the boys could find 
Mr. Sutton alone. When they at last succeeded 
they wasted no time, but told the story of Rud- 
low’s adventures of the previous day in a simple, 
straightforward manner. They carefully avoided 
any reference to Philips. 

Mr. Sutton instantly grasped the situation, 
and proposed to place the company’s detectives 
to work at once. It proved to be very difficult 
even to hint at their suspicions of an accomplice 
in the office, but Horace finally took his courage 
in both hands, and came out with it boldly. 

The story was received in silence. Horace 
told the story from the beginning, recalling the 
suspicious conversation he had overheard on 
first arriving in New York, and his recognition 


206 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

of the mysterious voice. From this he led up 
to his suspicions on the day his invention was 
tested, and ended with the testimony Rudlow 
had gathered the night before. 

Mr. Sutton heard Horace to the end without 
an interruption. The boys imagined that he 
had had suspicions of his own long before. 

Whose voice was it ? he asked abruptly. 

** I can hardly bring myself to tell you, sir.^' 

I understand your position, my boy,” he 
said kindly, but the time has come when I 
must know.” 

“ We would rather not tell you, sir, but we 
have a plan to bring the evidence to you in un- 
mistakable form.” 

Horace rapidly outlined his plan. ** Well, 
perhaps youVe right,” Mr. Sutton finally as- 
sented after a pause. When do you purpose to 
try the experiment ? ” 

“ Right away, sir. I can arrange it in ten 
minutes.” 

I will make no secret with you,” Mr. Sutton 
said. I know to whom your suspicions are 


THE DICTAPHONE 


207 


directed. It is just as well at this stage that we 
do not mention names. Go ahead with your 
connections. I’ll do the rest. We will listen in 
on the conversation right here as soon as you’re 
ready.” 

It was an experience never to be forgotten. 
Within a few minutes the connections had been 
made for the test. Half a dozen men sat silently 
about Mr. Sutton’s room without a word being 
spoken. 

When all was ready, Rudlow, his hat contain- 
ing the ingenious telephone, walked from the 
room, down the short hall, and without knock- 
ing or being announced, he opened the door of 
Philips’ office and stepped in. 

Later he told Horace that he found the room 
empty except for the director, seated at his 
desk. At the unusual interruption, Philips 
looked up angrily. He did not recognize Rud- 
low. Every word of the spirited dialogue 
which followed was overheard perfectly in Mr. 
Sutton’s room. It was surprisingly brief. 

What does this mean ? ” 


208 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** I am Burgess/' 

Who?" 

“ Burgess, and I am here about that stunt we 
pulled off last night." 

How dare you come here ? " 

“ Well, I am here, and what's more I'll stay 
until I am fixed up." 

** Lower your voice." 

** I haven't been getting my share." 

** Lower your voice." 

“ I mean business. I want money, or I'll 
squeal." 

** I beg of you to lower your voice. You will 
ruin me talking like that in here." 

** Well, are you ready to talk business ? " 

** Not here. Not now. I will meet you 
wherever you say." 

** I think I'll settle right now." 

** I will do anything you say if you will only 
leave this place at once." 

‘^I want $5,000." 

Yes, yes ! You shall have it, but I beg you 
to leave at once." 


THE DICTAPHONE 


209 


you meet me at the Chinatown place 
'"r with the money ? ” 

’promise. But go at once, or I am 


listeners about Mr. Sutton^s 
nmistakable distinctness. A 
'w entered the office with 




been proven beyond 
decided that the 

Y 

ie restaurant 
V dlow were 


CHAPTER XII 


Telephone Adventure 

T TOR ACE and Rudlow we 
-*■ ^ favor. 

Th^ boys were highly '' 
directors for their skii^ 
several days they 
but one morr’ 
executive oflP 
themselves* 

Tw^ 

in 


TELEPHONE ADVENTURES 


211 


** VH require them both to travel to distant 
in an hdilhe country. 

‘‘ Yes, I promotion was received about the 
ruined. '>usiasm. There would have been 
So much the under ordinary circumstances 
desk heard with u?, so young in years or expe- 
moment later Rudlo^x the heads of many older 
his hat still in his hand, ''ibute to the popularity 
The guilt of Philips had tf.hat they were con- 
a shadow of a doubt. It was tpir good fortune, 
detectives should be at the Chinei-duties finally 
within an hour, and Horace and Ru\. them for 
present to see the arrest. ’times 


212 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


found anything to say. They were passing a 
great system of tracks where hundreds of cars 
lay becalmed when Rudlow suddenly bestirred 
himself. 

Look there/^ he suddenly broke out. ** See 
those tracks ? What a wonderful business to be 
ini'' 

“ Oh, I don't know," interrupted Horace, 
sitting up suddenly. ** The country depends 
almost as much on the telephone wires up there 
in the air as on the railroad tracks ; perhaps 
more." 

The months of hard work among the wires 
had made Horace enthusiastic, and he was 
quick to defend his beloved profession. He had 
all the statistics of the growth of the great in- 
dustry at his finger ends, and never missed a 
chance to spread his knowledge. 

Oh, I say," Rudlow was thoroughly awake 
now, ‘^you can't mean that, you know. Just 
think of the thousands and thousands of miles 
of railroad tracks all over the country, and the 
people always traveling over them." 


TELEPHONE ADVENTURES 213 

“ Let me tell you something/^ Horace ex- 
plained. “ Do you know — at least the general 
public does not — that there are fully 3,000,000 
miles of toll wires used by the telephone systems 
throughout the United States? Let me see, 
that means that they would reach around the 
earth more than one hundred and twenty-nine 
times. Now if they were bound together they 
would make a pretty strong cable, wouldn’t 
they? And during last year 1,344,770 miles 
of new wire were added to the system. Some 
growth, eh ? ** 

** Well, yes,” Rudlow admitted reluctantly, 
“ but think how the railroads go everywhere 
connecting up every city and town in the 
country almost, and how much time we spend 
on them.” 

Very well, I’ll take you up on that,” Horace 
came back quickly. The telephone weaves a 
great net over every corner of the country. You 
hear the jangle of the telephone bell in thou- 
sands of places where the locomotive whistle is 
unknown. Just at present there are 9,847,193 


214 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


telephone stations in the United States and the 
system is growing by leaps and bounds. 

** And another point. Americans are the 
greatest travelers in the world ; no doubt about 
that. Everybody uses the railroads. But take 
the telephone. How many telephone calls do 
you suppose there are in the course of a year ? 
You wouldn^t guess within a thousand miles. 
Well, last year there were 9,789,700,000. Such 
figures are so big they can^t give you any defi- 
nite picture. Another way to put it is that 
every man, woman and child from one end of 
the United States to the other calls up on the 
telephone on an average of one hundred times 
in the course of a year. 

That's the business I am in, and expect to 
stay in," Horace continued. ‘‘ And when it 
comes to counting the importance of the tele- 
phone in business and life in general, why, it is 
simply indispensable. We couldn't get along 
without it for a day, an hour I People don't 
realize how they depend on it. Take just one 
example. Let the telephone suddenly break 


TELEPHONE ADVENTUKES 


215 


down and thousands of railroad trains would 
have to stop instantly. Our whole life would 
be thrown into hopeless confusion. 

**And we hear a great deal about efiBciency 
nowadays/^ Horace went on earnestly. Well, 
is there any business in the world where every 
second counts for so much as in telephoning? 
If a person puts the receiver of a telephone to 
his ear he expects to hear a reply instantly, or 
there is trouble. If he doesnT get his number 
in a second or two he complains, and he can get 
right to headquarters with his complaint in a 
moment. No waiting to write or call or send 
in his card. He can talk to the district super- 
intendent without the slightest formality. 
Where is there any other business where 
every employee is kept on the jump like 
that? 

“ I donT want to tire you talking shop.^^ 
Horace smiled at his own enthusiasm. But 
let me tell you one thing more. When a man 
wants a telephone anywhere in America he can 
call up headquarters, and order it and have 


216 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


workmen on the job in a few minutes. It will 
be only a question of a very few hours before 
the telephone is installed, and he is in touch 
with any part of the country, even the furthest 
seacoast. You wonT find such efiiciency any- 
where else in the world. 

** In Tokio, for instance, they have the mod- 
ern telephone, but actually it takes several 
months to get one installed. The number of 
telephones, you see, is limited and there is al- 
ways a long waiting list for ^phones. The result 
is they are greatly in demand and the numbers 
of those applicants early on the list are worth a 
lot of money. These numbers are actually listed 
on the stock exchange and speculated in. Can 
you beat it ? 

“ Have I ever told you about my fire expe- 
rience ? Rudlow asked. 

** No, fire away, by all means ! ** 

Well, there was a fire one day in the Heldon 
plant, and I happened to be there on inspection 
duty.^^ 

Excuse me for breaking in, but was that 


TELEPHONE ADVENTUKES 


217 


the big fire with so many men caught on the 
eighth floor of the building with all escape cut 
off?^^ 

“ Oh, pshaw ! you make a mountain out of a 
mole hill I I just happened to be up there 
testing wires when the smoke and flames shot 
out. There must have been a couple hundred 
people scattered about, mostly girls, and they 
got all fussed up. 

** The fact is the confusion was frightful. All 
escape to the streets, eight stories below, was cut 
off by the flames. It was a regular fire trap. 
Every one was flying about like chickens that 
had lost their heads. I ripped out some wires, 
connected up a spare transmitter and receiver, 
and established direct communication with fire 
headquarters, and there wasn^t a minute to lose, 
you can imagine. 

** I happened to know where the wires were, 
you see, and where the extra set was stored. 
I called up the fire department and the police 
station. I knew the number, so I didn't lose 
any time looking for a telephone directory. 


218 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


And then, since I was on top of the building, I 
could look down and see just where the trouble 
was, while those on the street couldn^t see any- 
thing for the flames and smoke. I suppose I 
helped some, telling them how to bring the hose 
around to the rear and where to put the exten- 
sion ladders and things like that. 

It grew so hot up there, with the flames 
licking their way nearer and nearer, that the 
woodwork of the telephone actually scorched. 
I found some water and kept dashing it over 
the instrument again and again so it wouldnT 
get too hot and burst into flames. I burnt my 
hand badly.” 

How many got out safely ? ” 

** Oh, they all got out safe enough. I waited 
to see the last of ^em climb out the windows. I 
was the last one to leave the building, and I 
might have been among the first. 

The worst part of it came later. There was 
a big crowd waiting around. And I guess 
about a hundred newspaper reporters. And 
every one wanted to shake hands with me, and 


TELEPHONE ADVENTURES 


219 


I almost wished I was back in the building, I 
felt so hot and uncomfortable/^ 

** Have you ever heard of the telephone girl 
on the border, Rud ? Horace asked, 

“ Go on, let^s have it.^' 

** The story is absolutely true. The telephone 
central had been installed in a little wooden 
shack within sight of the main street of one of 
the towns near the Mexican line. When Villa 
and his raiders swooped down on the town one 
night, without the slightest warning, of course 
the hello girl was working as usual at the key- 
board. By a lucky chance the lights were out 
in the central and to this fact the operator owes 
her life as well as do many others.’^ 

** Stuck to her post, eh ? 

She did that, and kept her nerve, too. A 
hail of bullets fell in the street and the tele- 
phone station was struck again and again. The 
glass window was shattered. The worst of it 
was that the falling glass struck and cut her 
badly, but she was game and plugged away as 
though nothing unusual was going on. 


^20 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** The telephone luckily was not hit by stray 
bullets ; at least it was not put out of business. 
From the window the operator could see just 
what was going on, how many troops there 
were, and all that. Well, she sat there and 
called up the headquarters of the National 
Guard, the Mayor, and the newspapers, and 
actually kept them informed of what was going 
on right under Viliams nose. 

^*A11 this was done in absolute darkness, 
mind you. A light would have attracted the 
attention of the Mexican raiders and they would 
have made short work of the telephone station 
and the operator. And I forgot to say that the 
operator was the wife of a local newspaper editor 
and that she had her baby with her. Otherwise 
she was absolutely alone.^^ 

** How long was she there ? 

'' Fully an hour. Long before that the Amer- 
ican soldiers had responded to her alarm call, 
and were chasing the raiders through the streets. 
She remained at her post, though, and kept the 
military headquarters informed of what was go- 


TELEPHONE ADVENTURES 


221 


ing on until the battle was done. It was the 
hottest kind of fighting and the streets looked 
as though there had been a storm of glass, for 
the bullets shattered the windows from one end 
of the town to the other.^' 


CHAPTER XIII 
Winning With the Wire 

T T AVE you ever heard the story of Theodore 
Vail, the biggest man in the telephone 
business ? asked Rudlow, as the two boys set- 
tled themselves in the Pullman after lunch. 

Horace looked up with quickly kindled inter- 
est. 

“ No, and I would like very much to.'" He 
drew a deep sigh. It must be great to have 
done the things he has done in his lifetime ! ” 

Rudlow nodded thoughtfully. 

“ And he has only one thought even now, 
they say, and that is the telephone and the 
telegraph. You know he has been made the 
Big Boss of both in this country.^' 

He sat for a moment in silence. 

“ Well, here goes for the story of his life — one 
222 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 223 

of the most inspiring bits of biography in Amer- 
ican history. 

“ Theodore Newton Vail was born on a farm 
in Carroll County, Ohio. His father intended 
to make a farmer of him. When he grew up, 
he himself floundered about noticeably before 
he decided where to deliver his zeal and self. 
To escape the farm, for a time he taught school ; 
to escape teaching, he came east and studied 
medicine ; but there was that in his blood 
which prevented him from remaining a country 
doctor. 

remote relation of his had been right- 
hand man to Morse at perfecting telegraphy 
for practical use ; had even formulated the dot- 
and-dash signals now known as the ‘ Morse 
Code.^ But this earlier Vail had received scant 
credit for the aid he had rendered. Hence, 
Theodore Newton Vail heard so much about 
wires and their use when strung along poles 
that eventually he dropped the study of medi- 
cine to become a telegrapher at a small western 
railroad station. 


224 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


The cramping routine of this work, however, 
was ill suited to one of his restless energy. 
Soon he changed again ; became a clerk in the 
Government Railway Mail Service. And here, 
at last, he found his place. His new work lay 
in a department in its infancy, groping for 
methods, where VaiPs peculiar genius for or- 
ganization came at length to its own. He 
evolved a system for handling his own mail 
which forced the attention of his superiors. In 
1873, at twenty-eight, he became assistant gen- 
eral superintendent ; two years later he was 
general superintendent of the entire Govern- 
ment Railway Mail Service. 

** Now, two peculiar faculties began to stand 
out and attract notice. He displayed an instinct 
for system and organization rare in those earlier 
days ; and he showed an accurate insight into 
the unexpressed needs of the public rare in any 
day. 

For three years he worked on, exercising 
these faculties to their fullest, never guessing 
for what great undertaking all this was to serve 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 


225 


but as an apprenticeship. And meantime, other 
hands were busy launching that great project 
from which Vail was to achieve world-wide 
fame. 

The telephone was at last demonstrating its 
commercial value, but only between offices and 
homes and workshops, and very, very slowly. 
Not a single exchange was in operation. Its 
promoters argued vainly for that larger useful- 
ness offered by the vast interconnected service 
of to-day. 

^‘Bankers said: ‘Just the thing for doctors 
and butchers. No, we can^t use it.^ 

“ To all intents and purposes, people regarded 
the telephone as little more than a plaything. 
Every one of those early telephones was in- 
stalled at a loss for the sake of advertising, and 
nothing gained. Bell regretted that he had 
ever discovered it. 

“ Before he had stumbled upon the invention, 
he had been a college professor in good repute ; 
now he was beginning to be shunned as a bore 
and a swindler. People crossed the street and 


226 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


dodged into stores to escape his importunities. 
He had succeeded only in ruining himself and 
the friends who had backed him. 

** Disheartened, Bell and his associates con- 
cluded that they would be satisfied merely to 
recoup their losses. Clutching at this last hope, 
they gave up the much they saw before for the 
little they thought to have in hand ; they went 
to the president of the Western Union Telegraph 
Company and offered him their business and 
patents for one hundred thousand dollars I 

And the official of that business looked in 
the mouth of the gift-horse. * And what do 
you suppose we want of it?^ he demanded. 
* Our company isnT in the toy business.^ 

Perhaps he trusted to stamp out with his 
contempt the few sparks which public disdain 
had left. 

“ Bell and his associates managed, however, 
to stagger along with their burden. Within a 
few weeks that Western Union president began 
to receive complaints from his agents. The tel- 
ephone had displaced his service in a number 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 227 

of offices. Instantly he changed tactics. He 
organized the American Speaking Telephone 
Company, with a capital of three hundred 
thousand dollars, with Edison, Gray and Dol- 
bear upon its staff, and set out to complete by 
force what his contempt had failed to accom- 
plish. 

If Bell and his associates had been alive to 
their misfortune before, how must they have 
felt now I On the one side were the inventor 
and three friends, their money and credit ex- 
hausted. On the other side was a resentful 
monopoly with unlimited capital and with all 
the prestige of its own success in a competitive 
line. There could, apparently, be but one out- 
come to such an unequal war. Everybody saw 
that. 

‘‘ ‘ Competition is the life of trade.' Our trust- 
organizers never take out this old economic 
principle nowadays except to show the dust on 
it and to bury it under language — but observe 
how it worked out in those days. 

^*The invasion of Bell's field by the Western 


228 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Union convinced thousands of skeptics, as 
nothing else could, that there must be some- 
thing in the telephone. To their utter aston- 
ishment, Bell and his friends found capitalists 
ready to listen to them, and lend a hand — with 
something in it. They raised fifty thousand 
dollars from Boston business men and organized 
a company to supply telephone service through- 
out New England. They started telephone- 
exchanges in Boston and other large cities. 
People began to subscribe, and at last inter- 
connected service was started along the road to 
to-day. 

“ But immediately they were in a worse 
tangle than ever. The sudden inrush of busi- 
ness, its more highly complicated nature, called 
for organization and system. Neither Bell nor 
any of his colleagues were fitted by experience 
or by temperament for such work. In the place 
of little business they now had more than they 
could handle ; but for lack of system their ex- 
penses were swamping them. It was a wonder- 
ful invention — this telephone— but once again 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 229 

it threatened to ruin the inventor and all his 
friends. Their salvation lay in discovering 
some man who could organize a system for 
which no previous business offered a pattern. 
Where was such a man to be had ? One man 
did have the training for just such a piece of 
work. And he possessed that leaping imagina- 
tion which sees the sure thing in the hazard 
way. Enter Theodore N. Vail to bring order 
out of chaos, to save the telephone business in 
infancy from the Western Union. For a salary 
of thirty-five hundred dollars a year he was 
tempted from the government service. In 1878 
he became the first general manager of the Bell 
telephone interests, and his work was cut out 
for him. 

Those were nerve-shattering times for Vail. 
It is little cause for wonder that long before 
sixty his hair became white. He had to sys- 
tematize a great, disordered business, growing 
so fast that all were working at cross purposes. 
That was the least of VaiFs troubles. First, 
he must save his company from destruction 


230 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

at the hands of a merciless and conscience- 
less competitor. The Western Union interests 
were claiming everything in sight. They had 
trumped up prior rights to the very invention 
of the telephone. They realized that it would 
take Bell years to get relief from the courts. 
Worse than this, one of their experts had in- 
vented a transmitter so superior that it made 
the Bell transmitter look like a makeshift. 

** The Bell agents in one after another of the 
big cities threw up their hands, and Vail had 
to take over their exchanges. Had it not been 
for one fortunate happening, this new trans- 
mitter would have driven Vail, Bell, Watson, 
Hubbard, Sanders — all this little early band of 
pioneers of the telephone — out of business. 

But one day there came to them Francis 
Blake, a young man serving on the United 
States Coast Survey. He had invented a trans- 
mitter which surpassed the one Edison had pro- 
vided the Western Union company. Bell and 
his friends snatched it from him in exchange 
for stock. And, not a day too soon, Vail be- 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 


231 


came able to supply a telephone service at least 
equal to that of his competitor. 

“ Vail worked mightily, and with vision. 
He saw beyond the limited local service to 
which the telephone was then restricted. 
Though it was regarded as a dream in those 
times of slender capital and rickety credit, he 
advocated that vast country-wide setting up of 
poles and wires which now enables Boston to 
talk with Omaha. Most of his time he spent 
in systematizing and quickening the purely 
local service then in use. Charles J. Glidden 
has means to conduct costly experiments with 
balloons to-day because he tore off the first strip 
from VaiTs larger vision. Glidden financed the 
first long-distance telephone line between Boston 
and Lowell, Mass. 

This line connected the busy Lowell cotton 
mills with their treasurers and selling agents in 
Boston. It made money. Using this as an 
example, Vail now urged the Bell directors to 
build a line between Boston and Providence. 
Again he failed to convince them ; again he 


232 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


had to go outside for capital. The ultimate 
success of this last venture, however, converted 
several of his own board. Seizing this advan- 
tage, he now induced them to begin a line be- 
tween Boston and New York. Here. was enter- 
prise — ‘ yes, enterprise gone mad I ^ retorted his 
critics. 

“ This line was to cost $75,000 — half as much 
again as the original Bell capital. It cost much 
more. Vail led his companions deep into the 
marshes of credit. Long before this line was 
completed they believed that they were mired 
once and for all time. 

<< < Why, we wonT be able to give that line 
away when it’s finished, and we’ve sunk all our 
money in it already,’ complained one of the 
Bell directors. But Vail was following his 
vision, and refused to be distracted or to take 
counsel and stop at way-stations. When his 
money gave out, he paid for construction with 
Bell stock. 

‘‘ When one contractor yelled, * You don’t pay 
me with any more of those ^‘shin-plasters,’” and 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 


233 


stopped work, Vail got another. Those despised 
‘ shin-plasters * made county magnates out of 
such country contractors as * could not give 
them away,' but they took them because Vail 
was Vail. 

“ He forced that line through with only such 
impulse as a strong man gains from the chal- 
lenging mistrust of his own backers. Its comple- 
tion was a personal triumph. But once it was 
operating, with a success which lifted the Bell 
company for the first time into national promi- 
nence, Vail hurried from the lime-light. The 
ordeal he had just gone through — well, it was 
over, wasn't it ? 

The makeshifts and privations of these 
pioneers of the telephone must be had from 
other lips. President Vail is so engrossed with 
the wire-problems of to-day and the future that 
his mind refuses to focus on the past. It was 
Thomas A. Edison who said this : 

* Mr. Vail is a big man. Until his day the 
telephone was in the hands of the men of little 
business capacity. Vail will encourage invent- 


234 : THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


ors — he’s invented things himself. But, beyond 
all that, he’s square.’ 

“ Edison ought to know. Edison was on the 
Western Union salary list when that company 
attempted to drive the Bell interests from the 
telephone field ; in fact, Edison invented that 
early transmitter which nearly put Vail and his 
associates out of business. 

‘ He’s square ! ’ What Edison said about 
him, so also say the men who work with and 
under Vail. 

“ He is a big, heavily made man, is Vail, with 
snow-white moustache, eyelashes and hair. His 
face wears the serious, forbidding look which is 
the mask of the busy man, a frown which 
threatens — but threatens merely to save more 
time for his real work. He is eager to com- 
plete his task and get back to that Vermont 
farm to which he has the habit of disappearing. 
He is a man of curious reticences and of long 
silences, talking unwillingly about himself. 

But all this is because he is a man who acts, 
who gets things done, not one whose mind 


WINNING WITH THE WIRE 


235 


shuttles on a loose fabric of picturesque talk. 
He is absorbed ; he is brooding over how the 
telephone and telegraph can be made to serve 
a still larger usefulness.'^ 


CHAPTER XIV 
The Geeat Flood 

A fter working together for several weeks, 
the two friends separated. Their duties 
proved far more interesting than either of them 
had expected. Many books might be filled with 
the stories of their varied adventures. 

It was to Horace, however, that one of the 
most remarkable experiences in the history of 
the American telephone came. The story of 
how the boy, by his quick wit and skillful use 
of the telephone, saved the lives of hundreds in 
the Great Flood will be remembered for years. 

Horace's inspection tour had carried him into 
the smaller towns of Virginia. Late one night 
the boy had tumbled into bed, exhausted after 
a hard day's work, to be awakened with a start 
in the first streaks of dawn by many shouts, 
and the clatter of horses' hoofs. 

The quiet street awakened with a start. On 
236 


THE GREAT FLOOD 


237 


every hand windows were hastily opened and 
hundreds of anxious faces peered out. Several 
horsemen swept down the thoroughfare. 

The dam I The dam I ” they were shouting. 

Horace was one of the first to hear the alarm. 
Springing from his bed, he rushed to the win- 
dow and looked out. The street filled as if by 
magic. The cry was taken up on every side, 
until the town rang with it. 

“ What^s the trouble ? ” Horace called to a 
man below him. 

It^s the dam I the man called back, and 
rushed on. 

Fragments of excited talk began to reach the 
boy. He gathered that the great structure of 
masonry above the town, which held back a sea 
of water, was in imminent danger. 

At a bound Horace reached the telephone be- 
side his bed. It was silent. Again and again 
he gave the signal for Central without a reply. 

It was the work of a few seconds to dash into 
his clothes. Buttoning them as he ran, he 
dashed down to the lobby of the hotel. 


238 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Everything was in confusion. The guests, 
many of them in bath robes, were hurrying 
about in all directions. 

What is it? What is it ? Horace asked of 
the excited people. 

A panic of fear seemed to fill every one. 

An automobile with its horn shrieking dashed 
down the street. It was filled with men in uni- 
forms who shouted to the people. 

Run I Run ! Run I Not a moment to 
lose I ” they cried wildly. 

Horace dashed out upon the street. The main 
thoroughfare of the town lay at the bottom of a 
deep valley. Many streets crossed it, rising 
steeply as they climbed the hills on either side. 

His practical mind told him that his position 
was safe for the moment. The great dam further 
up the valley was in plain sight perhaps a mile 
away. 

Even if the worst should come, he realized 
there would be ample time to reach high ground. 
Horace returned to his hotel and caught up his 
suit case, to be ready for any emergency. 


THE GREAT FLOOD 


239 


Confusion still reigned in the street. The 
telephone central was only a few blocks away, 
and this he decided would be the safest place 
for the present. 

The telephone people seemed to be the only 
ones in town who had kept their heads. Horace 
found the operators still standing bravely at 
their posts. As he expected there was more 
news to be found at the telephone office than 
anywhere else in town. 

Glad to see you^re safe,^' said the superintend- 
ent as Horace entered. 

** How bad is it ? 

** Nobody knows exactly.” 

Has the dam gone ? ” 

‘‘ Not yet. But it is badly damaged, and may 
break at any moment.” 

Is the town in danger ? ” 

I donT think so,” the superintendent said 
hurriedly. “ But every one seems to have gone 
mad.” 

If the worst comes, there is time to reach 
high ground, I should think,” said Horace. 


240 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


That is what I am telling them. The op- 
erators are doing their best to give the alarm. 

Horace paused for a moment to watch the 
switchboard. The girls with the receivers 
strapped over their heads were working at top 
speed. Hundreds of terrified questions were 
coming in from all sides. 

** The town is probably safe/^ the superintend- 
ent went on. “ The real danger is for Brown- 
ville down the valley.^^ 

“ I don’t understand.” Horace was naturally 
puzzled. 

** There is a peculiar geographical formation,” 
Mr. Hartley explained. ** If the dam breaks, 
the chances are ten to one the water will go down 
the other valley, and leave us high and dry. 

** There are several weak spots in the dam. 
No one can tell where it will give way first. If 
it goes, it may be worse than the Johnstown 
flood.” 

A dull roar suddenly filled the air. It was 
answered on all sides by cries of terror as the 
half-crazed people ran aimlessly about. 


THE GREAT FLOOD 


241 


** Has she gone ? ” Mr. Hartley turned to 
one of the operators. 

Every one had jumped to their feet. The 
operators stood pale and trembling. 

Let me take that switchboard/^ Horace ex- 
claimed. 

In a moment he had clasped the receiver to 
his head, and with deft fingers manipulated the 
plugs and switches. 

Is there any station near the dam I can talk 
to ? he asked. 

<< Try 47-L,” prompted Mr. Hartley. 

‘*They don't answer. Who is it?" Horace 
asked. 

“ The station in the mill. The girl there, 
Miss Sherwood is her name, can see the dam 
from her window, that is, if she has stuck to 
her post." 

** Here she is," Horace interrupted. 

This is Bromley, district inspector," he 
spoke through the telephone. " What is the 
situation ? " 

'' The dam still holds," came the reply. 


242 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** There was a bad crack a few moments ago, 
sir.’^ 

** Are you in danger ? Horace asked. 

“ I don’t know, sir. I’ll stay as long as I 
can.” 

You are the right sort,” Horace added. 
** Now, hold the wire open.” 

Even in the excitement of the moment 
Horace noticed that the voice of the girl was 
firm and musical. 

“ There is not a moment to lose.” Horace 
spoke rapidly. “What is the situation down 
the valley ? ” 

“ Heaven knows I ” The superintendent’s 
face was white. “ All the wires have been down 
for forty-eight hours, washed clear away by the 
spring freshets.” 

“ Is there no way of warning the people ? ” 

“ Several men started off* on horseback when 
the first crack came, but all the roads are 
gone.” 

“ How long will it take them to get there ? ” 

“ No one knows. Hours perhaps I They 


THE GREAT FLOOD 


243 


must make long detours. The streams cannot 
be forded/^ 

Horace^s face hardened. Twenty miles down 
the valley there were tens of thousands of 
people in ignorance of the awful fate which 
hung over them. 

Miss Sherwood I '' He turned to the tele- 
phone receiver. Give all your attention to 
this wire, please. Keep me informed. You 
realize what this means, I suppose ? 

“ You’ll find I am not a quitter,” the same 
musical voice came back. 

I’m sure of it. Miss Sherwood,” Horace re- 
plied reassuringly. The lives of many people 
depend upon us here. You are to watch the 
dam, and if the break comes, let us know just 
what happens. If the flood comes down this 
valley it will give us a chance to give the 
alarm.” 

He turned to the superintendent. Every one 
of the office staff stood bravely at their posts. 

** How far are we from the dam ? ” 

** About four miles.” 


2U THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

That means more than ten minutes' warning 
if the worst comes. Now about the people down 
the valley. If the flood comes this way, they 
are safe. If it goes down the other valley how 
long will it take to reach them ? " 

Less than an hour." 

Horace's face tightened. There was not a 
moment to lose. 

You are sure all wires are down to Brown- 
ville ? " he asked. 

No doubt about it." 

Let me see. Hasn't Brownville a wire run- 
ning northwest ? " 

‘‘ I believe so, but it is a private line. The 
trunk line ends at Hitherville, forty miles 
away." 

Horace had not studied the telephone map of 
the country in vain. 

** There is just a chance," he said. Get 
Philadelphia on the east line. Have them put 
you through to New York, then to Buffalo, and 
so down to Hitherville. We can try for the 
private wire from there." 


THE GREAT FLOOD 


245 


** It may take hours/' 

“ Try it I Tell them at Central it's a matter 
of life and death." 

An operator was soon busily manipulating 
the eastward bound wires. 

** Yes, this is Mr. Bromley I " Horace still had 
the receiver at his ears. He listened with drawn 
face for a moment. 

** This is Miss Sherwood speaking," came the 
voice. “ There is another bad crack in the dam. 
But it still holds." 

All stood intently listening for several seconds. 
Traveling at the rate of a mile in seven seconds, 
a low booming sound soon filled the air. 

** Hello, Miss Sherwood I " Horace spoke into 
the receiver, " Try to keep cool I " 

Meanwhile the little white signals on the 
switchboard kept up an incessant winking. As 
fast as the deft fingers of the operators could 
work the plugs, hundreds of anxious people 
were being told that the dam still held. 

Here is Philadelphia, Mr. Bromley," an 
operator announced a moment later. 


246 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** Hello I Hello 1 ” Horace spoke into the 
'phone hurriedly. This is Inspector Bromley. 
Give me New York. It is a matter of life and 
death 1 Hurry I " 

The call was the private number of the cen- 
tral office in New York. In a few moments 
Horace heard the familiar voice of the Central 
in the main office. 

“ Harry, this is Horace I No time for expla- 
nations I This is an extra emergency. I must 
have Buffalo 1 Tell them to cut in on anything. 
Rush I " 

The time of getting the connections had been 
a little slow so far. Ten minutes had passed. 
With the authority of Central, the work would 
be quicker now. 

The minutes passed anxiously. 

Horace suddenly bent forward before his 
switchboard. 

Mr. Bromley I " The voice of Miss Sher- 
wood sounded strained and anxious. ‘‘ The 
dam is going I Water is pouring through a 
crack on the extreme left I ” 


THE GREAT FLOOD 


247 


Keep cool, Miss Sherwood I ** Horace tried 
to make his voice sound calm and reassuring. 

** The crack is spreading I There goes a big 
section now I It is frightful I ” 

Are you safe ? Horace asked anxiously. 
Years after, he often recalled the fear he had 
felt at that moment for the plucky girl with the 
musical voice. 

** The water is rising, but I think I can stay 
for a few minutes I 

“ How is it going ? 

** The stream has divided. It is flooding the 
west valley I Part of it is going down the east 
valley, but not much.^^ 

Are you safe ? ” 

** The water covers the floor of the office now, 
but Pll wait until it is a foot deeper before I 
leave the wire.'^ 

** Heaven help Hitherville ! ” 

Mr. Hartley groaned. 

** We have less than twenty minutes to warn 
them ! Horace said grimly. 

A great roar suddenly filled the air as the 


248 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

report of the final break of the dam reached 
them. 

“ Notify everybody you can reach,” Horace 
directed the operators. 

Minute by minute the time passed. Horace 
made a swift calculation. The great flood of 
water which would destroy Hitherville was 
rushing forward with terrifying swiftness. In 
fifteen minutes more it would be upon the un- 
conscious town. 

Thousands of lives depended upon the slender 
telephone wire stretched for thousands of miles. 

The receiver clicked. 

Thank God I ” Horace cried. 

He spoke rapidly into the telephone, explain- 
ing the tragic situation in the fewest words. 

It was impossible to connect the long distance 
wire with the private line. The message must 
be relayed. More time must be lost. 

Meanwhile the news of the flood and of the 
desperate attempt being made to warn its 
victims had spread like lightning along the line 
of the communication. In Philadelphia, New 


THE GEEAT FLOOD 


249 


York, Bufialo, people were waiting breath- 
lessly for the outcome of this race. 

The speed of the telephone system was pitted 
against the deadly onrush of the devastating 
floods. Thousands of lives depended upon 
every moment saved. 

Now came the last message from Miss Sher- 
wood. 

“ The water is rising I It is more than two 
feet deep. But Ifll stay longer if I am needed/' 
came the same musical voice once more. 

No I No I Save yourself I " Horace ordered. 
“ Drop everything I " 

Several minutes passed. They seemed endless. 

‘‘How long have we left?" Horace asked 
anxiously. 

“ The flood will be on the village in less than 
ten minutes, I figure it." The superintendent 
hesitated. 

The first water began to fill the street outside 
the telephone office. Thanks to the warning of 
the telephone the town was prepared, and the 
terror and excitement had begun to subside. 


250 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

Horace and Mr. Hartley exchanged anxious 
glances but neither spoke as the clock ticked 
off the seconds. 

Suddenly Horace bent forward, listening with 
the most anxious attention, and then, his face 
radiant, he turned. 

Thank God 1 '' he said fervently. 

You got through? ** 

** Buffalo reached them. It should be all 
right.” 

Horace and the superintendent shook hands 
warmly. 

I congratulate you with all my heart,” the 
latter said. 

The wire spoke again. It was the voice of 
Mr. Sutton in the central office in New York. 
He had been listening anxiously for the result 
of the daring experiment. 

“ Is that you, Bromley ? ” he asked. I wish 
I was there to shake hands with you, my boy.” 


CHAPTER XV 
Success at Last 


- TJELLO, old man I 

It was Horace^s old chum, who fairly 
shouted a welcome as he held out both hands in 
greeting. 

“ It sure is good to be back in New York and 
see you again I Horace responded warmly. 

“ Been growing famous, eh ? 

“ Oh, you put it too strong I I haven^t done 
anything to brag about.” Horace actually 
blushed. 

** Well, we all have our opinion about that,” 
his friend said with conviction. Why, look 
what all the papers have been saying about you, 
and the big men here in the telephone com- 
pany, too I ” 

Forget it I ” said Horace, trying to laugh. 

The two old friends had come together in the 
251 


252 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


lobby of the great telephone building on Lower 
Broadway. Horace had received a hurry call 
to quit his work of inspection in the field and 
hasten to the New York office. 

The story of his plucky, ingenious work in 
saving the thousands of imperiled people in the 
fiooded districts a few days before had been told 
in detail in the newspapers throughout the 
country. Horace was the only person who 
seemed unconscious of what he had done. 

It seemed but a few days to the two friends 
since they had first met in this same building 
and discussed the chances of Horace^s getting a 
position, almost any kind of work, in fact, in 
the telephone business. 

When they reached the top fioor Horace saw 
again the crowd of eager applicants crowded about 
the door of the employment office seeking work. 

What a change since he had been one of that 
crowd I 

To-day he passed the line of applicants, and 
entered the door leading to Mr. Sutton^s office, 
assured of a very warm welcome. 


SUCCESS AT LAST 


253 


The barriers and formalities set up in great 
business offices to protect the officials against 
intrusion were as rigid as ever. For Horace to- 
day, however, there were none of the difficulties 
of his early visits. 

As he showed his face inside the office door 
he was greeted with smiling faces and out- 
stretched hands. 

Welcome I It was Mr. Sutton, himself, 
who hurried forward. 

** You are very kind,^^ said Horace. 

“ We are glad to see you and we’re proud of 
you, my boy.” 

**Oh, that’s all right,” Horace said, embar- 
rassed. 

‘‘ I have some very interesting news for you,” 
Mr. Sutton continued. 

Horace began to look bewildered. 

“ For some time we have been quietly testing 
your clarifying invention.” 

** I hope it has not proved a failure,” Horace 
faltered. 

You may put your mind at rest at once,” 


254: THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


Mr. Sutton replied emphatically. On the con- 
trary, it has proven anything but a failure. 

We have tested your contrivance under all 
sorts of conditions. It was not sufficient that it 
prove successful in one or two trials. We have 
had other inventions which worked very well 
the first time. What we need, and need badly, 
is a clarifying device which will work under the 
most unfavorable conditions, and will always 
prove dependable.^' 

'' Perhaps if I could help you in the tests," 
Horace suggested, timidly, I could devise some 
improvement if it fell down." 

Well, the fact is, my boy," Mr. Sutton said, 
beaming, it has not fallen down in a single 
test ! It is a great big success ! " 

** I don't know how to thank you I " Horace 
stammered. 

‘‘ There is nothing to thank us for ! But I 
have more news for you." 

Several of the officials entered the room at this 
moment, and Mr. Sutton introduced Horace to 
them in turn. They looked at him curiously. 


SUCCESS AT LAST 


255 


** And now for the rest of my news/^ Mr. Sut- 
ton continued. “ The fact is, we were testing 
your clarifying invention on the very night 
your famous flood message came in.^' 

** And was it of assistance ? ” 

** The greatest possible assistance ! '' 

** I may say,” broke in one of the officials, 
** that without your invention it would have 
been practically impossible for your message to 
have gone through I ” 

Horace started to speak but tears choked his 
voice. 

** Yes, indeed,” another official broke in. 
‘‘ Your invention literally saved the lives of 
thousands that night ! ” 

You see,” Mr. Sutton explained, we used 
your clarifying device first at the telephone 
banquet in Washington, which I think I told 
you about. But I wanted to be entirely certain 
before I raised your hopes too much. 

That test was all very well as far as it went. 
It went pretty far too, several thousand miles. 
But the supreme test was yet to come. At the 


256 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


dinner the conditions of course were unusually 
favorable. 

What we wanted was a severe test over old 
lines, part of which were in poor condition. We 
only waited for some such test as that to decide 
that your invention was worth general applica- 
tion to our system. 

The flood message ofiered a supremely difii- 
cult test. Many of the connections were poor, 
and long stretches of the lines in out-of-the-way 
places had been affected by the flood and were 
in bad shape. No one was expecting that the 
test would be made. It found the lines unpre- 
pared. 

** After such a test, the severest possible, all 
are entirely satisfled with the efficiency of your 
new invention, and we are ready to adopt it. 

** And now let’s get down to business,” added 
Mr. Sutton. “ Have you thought how much 
your invention may be worth ? ” 

** No, sir,” Horace replied. ** But I know 
that I can leave that to you.” 

Well, we will decide that in detail later. 


SUCCESS AT LAST 


257 


And you may be sure you will be dealt fairly 
with, my hoy” 

I'm certain of that, sir I ” 

I may tell you that your interest promises 
to be a very considerable one, more than you 
probably realize now." 

Horace found himself swallowing very hard, 
but he could find no words for the moment. 

** There is one thing we should decide at 
once," one of the directors now suggested. Is 
there any chance of Mr. Bromley's negotiating 
with any other company for his device ? " 

“ Oh, no, sir I " Horace cried. 

“ I will answer for that," said Mr. Sutton. 
** Our plan was, if it meets with your approval, 
to relieve you of your present work and estab- 
lish you here in the central office in New 
York I " 

** 1 should like nothing better in the world," 
said Horace warmly. The dream of his life 
was now realized. 

With his head in a whirl Horace shook hands 
again with Mr. Sutton and the directors. Any 


258 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 

other details to settle now?” Mr. Sutton 
asked. 

There is just one thing you can do for me,” 
Horace said, hesitating, if I am not asking too 
much?” 

What is that ? ” 

‘‘ Will you send a message to my mother, 
Mrs. G. F. Bromley, Willsby, Ohio, and tell her 
the news ? ” 

Yes, indeed, we will, and the message will 
be marked rush, with my personal 0. K. to 
assure prompt delivery I 

** Oh, there is another thing I had almost for- 
gotten,” Mr. Sutton said suddenly. ** I told 
you the story of your flood message had at- 
tracted general attention in the newspapers. 
But it has gone further than that. I have just 
learned that a Carnegie medal is to be presented 
to you in appreciation of your conduct at the 
flood.” 

Horace stood staring dumbly. Mr. Sutton 
reached over and clapped him heartily on the 
back. 


SUCCESS AT LAST 


259 


** What^s the matter, my boy ? ” 

** Why, it all seems like a dream I ” Horace 
stammered. “ I'm afraid I'll wake up, and find 
myself back on earth again I " 

Mr. Sutton laughed. 

Come out and have lunch with me — and 
we'll see if a square meal can't convince you I " 
And Horace laughed back happily. 


Author^ s Note 

These final words in the story of Horace 
Bromley's telephone career are added on the 
receipt of a letter, just arrived from Horace, 
conveying the news that Horace has gone into a 
training camp for volunteer service in France 
under the Stars and Stripes in the great world 
war. 

I made up my mind to go before the first 
call came," says Horace in his letter. ** I am 
just over the age limit, you know. I believe 
that every fellow with red blood in his veins 
ought to do his part now for the Flag — and I 
am going to try to do mine. 


260 THE YOUNG TELEPHONE INVENTOR 


** Through the influence in the office and my 
record there I have obtained a place in the fleld 
telephone corps — and from every indication 
we are going to have some pretty lively times 
ahead. We are expecting to sail for France in 
the fall. 

** Sincerely yours, 

“Horace Bromley." 


Publication* of 

W. A. WILDE COMPANY 
Boston Chicago 


r “ ^ ~ 

! By Everett T. Tomlinson 

War of the 
Revolution Series 

Each Volume Fully Illustrated 
j Price, Cloth, $ 1.35 net each 

Every boy who has ever read these his- 
torical stories by Dr. Tomlinson will say that 
this series of books is one of the best which 
j has ever been written, for the stories are 
j patriotic, interesting, and instructive. The 
■ heroes in each of the books are resourceful 
i and devoted to the best interests of their 
/ country. Any boy who has never read these 
I stories has much to look forward to. 

The series consists of four volumes:-^ 

Thrc« Colonial Boys. A Story of the Times of ’76. 

Three Young Continentals. A Story of the 
American Revolution. 

Washington’s Young Aids. A Story of the 
New Jersey Campaign of 1776-1777. 

I Two Young Patriots; or, Boys of the Frontier. 

I A Story of Burgoyne’s Invasion. 

I 

» 


By Everett T. Tomlinson 

Author of the “ War of the Revolution Series” 

“The Colonial Series” 


With Flintlock and Fife 

A STORY OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN 
WARS AND THE BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE 
IN I 7 SS- 356 pp. 

The hardships, privations and struggles through which the 
early colonists passed are graphically described in this story. 
Dr. Tomlinson’s boys are full of life and the experiences 
which they encounter and the services which they render to 
their country are thrilling and most praiseworthy. 

The Fort in the Forest 

THE STORY OF THE FALL OF FORT WILLIAM 
HENRY IN 1755. 341pp. 

This volume takes its readers through the French and 
Indian Wars and is full of the adventurous life of the times. 
It covers the many early engagements which took place dur- 
ing this period and which proved to be the foundation stones 
upon which was built the spirit of 1775. 

A Soldier of the Wilderness 

A STORY OF ABERCROMBIE’S DEFEAT AND 
THE FALL OF FORT FRONTENAC IN 1758. 
The third volume in the “ Colonial Series.” 357 pp. 

Generals Abercrombie Howe, Putnam, and Montcalm, 
together with the leaders of those times, are the characters 
introduced, and all together it makes a stirring story of patri- 
otism and adventure. 

The Young Rangers 

A STORY OF THE CONQUEST OF CANADA. 
3Si pp. The fourth aind concluding volume in the “Colo- 
nial Series.” 

It carries the history of our country down to the overthrow 
of the French. It is not only the story of Wolfe and his 
famous assault upon the citadel of Quebec, but it also takes 
up the history around Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 

Each Volume is Fully Illustrated. Price, $ 1.35 net 


W. A. WILDE COMPANY 
Bostoij and Chicago 


fiy Commander Edw, L, Beach, U,S,N. 


Ralph Osborn — Midshipman at Am 
napolis 

A STORY OF ANNAPOLIS LIFE. 836 pages 

Midshipman Ralph Osborn at Sea 

A STORY OF MIDSHIPMAN LIFE AT SEA, AND 
CONTINUING “ RALPH OSBORN— MIDSHIPMAN 
AT ANNAPOLIS.” ‘ 360 pages 

Ensign Ralph Osborn 

THE STORY OF HIS TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS 
IN A BATTLESHIP’S ENGINE ROOM. 338 pages 

Lieutenant Ralph Osborn Aboard a 
Torpedo Boat Destroyer 

BEING THE STORY OF HOW RALPH OSBORN 
BECAME A LIEUTENANT AND OF HIS CRUISE 
IN AN AMERICAN TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYER 
IN WEST INDIAN WATERS. 342 pages 

The “OSBORN” books show the steps of advancement in the 
American Navy , from Cadet to Lieutenant, with a true picture of naval 
life as it is. The information given is authentic-; and many of the 
related incidents were actual occvirrences. They are lx>ok3 of infor- 
mation and adventure combined. 

Such stories as these are not only interesting to the young people but 
carry with them an insight into naval life which will make the reader 
have more respect and appreciation of the work of Uncle Sam’s navy. 
They are first-class stories for boys — clean, good, and worthy of a 
place in the home, private or school library. 

“These are the best stories on the United States Navy which have 
ever been written. They give a clear insight into the workings of this 
important branch of American government and the characters are true 
befits a book written by such a man as Commander Beach, 
who has enjoyed an enviable career ever since he entered the United 
States Navy .” — New Y@rk Times. 

These tJotnmes are att fuUp illustrated 
Price, Cloth, $1,35 net each 


W. A. WILDE CO. Boston and Chicago 


(By William Drysdale 

The Famous ‘ 

“Brain and Brawn” Series 

SACo should grow up without reading these books 


'Ke Young Reporter 

A STORY OF PRINTING HOUSE SQUARE. 300 pp. 

A genuine boys’ book for genuine boys. Full of 
life, clean, clear cut and inspiring. It will enlist the 
interest of every stirring and wide-awake boy. 

lira Fast* Mail 

THE STORY OF A TRAIN BOY. 328 pp. 

The story of the adventures of a boy who fought 
his way to success with clean gidt and good sense, 
accomplishing what is within the power of every 
American boy if he sets about it. It is full of move- 
ment, sound in sentiment, and wholesome in 
character. 

Ibe Beach Patrol 

A STORY OF THE LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. 318pp. 

A spirited picture of the labors and dangers to 
which members of the life-saving service are ex- 
posed and which few realize. 

‘Ee Young Supercargo 

A STORY OF THE MERCHANT MARINE. 352 pp. 

This book has all of the interest of ‘ ‘ Oliver 
Optic’s ” books, with none of their improbabilities. 

The Volumes are Fully Illustrated. Price, $1.35 each. 


W. A. WILDE COMPANY 

Boston and Chicago 


The Boys’ Book Shelf 

The object of this series is to give a high grade, 
attractive and interesting series of hooks for ho^s 
on up-to-date subjects and at a popular price 

Each volume $1*25 net 


Bp Walter P. Eaton 

The Boy Scouts of Berkshire 

A story of how the Chipmunk Patrol was started, what they did 
and how they did it. S13 pages 

The Boy Scouts of the Dismal Swamp 

This story is a continuation of THE BOY SCOUTS OF BERKSHIRE 
and is an unusually interesting book on Boy Scouting. SIO pages 

Boy Scouts in the White Mountains 

Intimate knowledge of the country as well as of the basic princi- 
ples of Boy Scouting characterizes this new volume by Mr. Eaton. 

320 pages 

Boy Scouts of the Wildcat Patrol 

A story of Boy Scouting 

This story is a continuation of the history of Peanut and the other 
characters which appeared in previous volumes by this author. 

315 pages 

Peanut — Cub Reporter 

A Boy Scout’s life and adventures on a newspaper 

A rattling newspaper story with Peanut as the central character 
— he who has figured so prominently in the author’s four Boy Scout 
books. 820 pages 

Bp Hugh C. Weir 

The Young Shipper of the Great Lakes 

A story of the Commerce of the Great Lakes. 825 pages 

Cinders — The Young Apprentice of 
the Steel Mills 

A wonderful story of the great steel industry, showing how a boy 
succeeded in working his way through the various departments. 
The story gives a clear and intensely interesting picture of this 
great industry. 809 pages 

The Young Wheat Scout 

Being the story of the growth, harvesting and distribution 
of the great wheat crop of the United 5tates 

How it is produced, how distributed and how great a value it is to 
the prosperity of the country. Intensely interesting and full of valu- 
able information. 318 pages 


W1 


The Boys’ Book Shelf 

{Continued) 

The object of this series is to give a high grade, 
attractive and interesting series of hooks for bo}fs 
on up-to-date subjects and at a popular price 

Each volume $1,25 net 


“Bp Leivis E. Theiss 

In Camp at Fort Brady — A Camping 
Story 

The country around Fort Brady is rich in historical interest and 
the month’s camping trip of a party of boys with a competent guide 
serves to develop a story which is full of information. 320 pages 

His Big Brother 

A story of the Struggles and Triumphs of a Little Son of Liberty 

A story of the “Big Brother” movement and interesting both to 
young and old alike. This great “Big Brother” movement is espe- 
cially interesting to all and shows how the other half live and what 
is being done to help and uplift them. 320 pages 

Lumberjack Bob 

A Tale of the Alleghanies 

A volume teeming with adventure, picturesque information and an 
intimate knowledge of animal life. It is the picture of a great 
modern lumber camp with its gigantic flume and splash dam as well 
as of the conservation of the forest and the overcoming of those who 
tried to prevent the harvesting of the lumber. 318 pages 

“Bp Com, Thos, D. Parser, U.S,N, {retired) 

Young Heroes of the American Navy 

Being stories and adventures of the most noted young heroes 
of our navy 

The naval history of our country has developed many young men 
who through patriotism have performed many acts of daring heroism 
and whose names are in the hall of naval fame. 

Many and many a boy will become better acquainted with the 
naval history of his country through reading the wonderful biograph- 
ical sketches contained in this volume. 320 pages 

Something To Do, Boys 

'Each volume illustrated with over 125 illustrations 

By special arrangement with the “Something To Do” magazine 
this complete volume adapted for boys has been issued, the material 
collated, grouped and edited with the interest of the boys in view, 
as well as its adaptability to their needs. This volume marks the 
highest point of eflQciency in books with the “Something To Do” idea. 

256 pages 



The Boys’ Book Shelf 

(.Continued) 

The object of this series is to give a high grade, 
attractive and interesting series of hooks for hoys 
on up-to-date subjects and at a popular price 

Each volume $1.25 net 


“Bp Thomas D. Parker, Com. U, S, N, 

The Cruise of the Deep Sea Scouts 
or Boy Scouts Afloat 

Deep sea scouting is one of the most important activities of the 
Boy Scout organization and the call of the sea is as strong as the call 
of the Avoods or the mountains, while the life of the sailor promotes 
the same discipline and training as does the life of the soldier. 

820 pages 

“Bp Lewis E. Theiss 

The Wireless Patrol at Camp Brady 

A story of how the boy campers, through their knowledge 
of wireless, “did their bit ” 

The campers at Camp Brady saw their opportunity of being of 
service to their country and although declaration of war brought 
orders to dismantle all the apparatus which they had been able to 
make in their amateur way, yet the knowledge which they had 
gained before the war served as a foundation so that they, although 
too young for actual enlistment, had a chance to ‘‘do their bit.” 

820 pages 

Bp Hugh C, Weir 

The Young Telephone Inventor or 
Following the Wire 

This is a story of how a boy worked his way up and became one 
of the links in the development of this service. Plu^, courage and 
mental alertness served to guide and encourage him and it is a 
pleasure to realize that although the story is fiction, yet the charac- 
ters are today in the telephone service, 820 pages 


Each volume illustrated with colored frontispiece 


The Girls’ Book Shelf 

The object of this series is to give a high grade, 
attractive and interesting series of hooks for girls 
on up-to-date subjects and at a popular price 

Each volume $1,25 net 


By Amy E, "Blanchard 

Elizabeth^ Betsy and Bess 

Miss Blanchard needs no introduction to girls. Her stories have 
been read for years and Elizabeth, Betsy and Bess are just such 
characters as every girl enjoys reading about. 284 pages 

Elizabeth, Betsy and Bess — 
Schoolmates 

This is the story of the school days of the three girl chums and 
shoAvs the individual development of each one. Every chapter is 
full of the interesting experiences dear to the hearts of girls of this 
age. 838 pages 

The Camp Fire Girls of Brightwood 

A STORY OF HOW THEY KINDLED THEIR FIRE 
AND KEPT IT BURNING 

What the Boy Scout organization means to the boys, Camp Fire 
Girls means to their sisters. It is a well grounded organization, 
having high aims of helpfulness and personal service and this story 
shows the development in the characters of those who made up the 
organization in the little town of Brightwood. 309 pages 

Fagots and Flames 

A STORY OF WINTER CAMP FIRES 
This is a companion volume to "The Camp Fire Girls of Bright- 
wood,” but absolutely independent of it. The author has carried 
along the characters of the former story, bringing into prominence 
the true-hearted country girl, Kathleen Gilman. It is brightened with 
girlish fun and by the ceremonials of the Camp Fire Girls, and will 
be dear to the heart of every member of the Camp Fire Organization. 

306 pages 

In Camp with the Muskoday Camp 
Fire Girls 

A STORY OF SUMMER CAMP FIRES BY CABIN 
AND LAKE 

This story is a leaf out of the history of the Muskoday Camp Fire 
Girls centering around their life in a summer camp back in the 
Maine woods. It is full of the experiences of a happy group of girls 
representing different types of individuality. It conveys a true pic- 
ture of Camp Fire life, weaving into it much of the Camp Fire 
ceremonials such as appeal to every vigorous girl, particularly 
to those who follow the " Law of the Camp Fire.” 310 pages 



BOOKS BY 

Ellen DouglasDeland 


Malvern; A Neighborhood Story 

341 pp. i2mo. Cloth. 

“Malvern” is a story of fine workmanship, sterling 
sentiments, and more than ordinary caliber. The 
author is one of the best writers for young people, 
and this is certainly one of her best stories . — The In- 
terior. 

A Successful Venture 

' 340 PP« i2mo. Cloth. 

This book, primarily for girls, is lively and full of 
interest, pure in its tone and free from sensation, and 
full of many helpful suggestions. It is a story of 
a family of girls who found it necessary to make their 
own way in the world. This they did with success. 
— Boston Transcript, 

Katrina 

340 pp. X2mo. Cloth. 

“Katrina” is a story which all girl readers would 
pronounce a capital good one. The heroine’s desire 
to look beyond the horizon of her little village when 
opportunity presents itself takes her to New York, 
where she finds new pleasures and experiences. The 
book is certainly a most wholesome one. — The Book- 
sellery New York. 

Three Girls of Hazelmere. A Story 

360 pp. i2mo. Cloth. 

To take a trip abroad with Miss Poland’s “Three 
Girls of Hazelmere” is a treat for any reader, for the 
author’s style is natural, yet remarkably effective, 
and the interest follows closely to the end of the book. 
— Bookseller. 

The Friendship of Anne 

342 pp. Cloth. X2mo. 

This is a book which will appeal to girls and interest 
them throughout. It is founded on boarding-school 
life and is full of activity and enthusiasm . — Herald 
and Presbyter, 

Each Volume Fully Illustrated. Price, $1.35 Net Each 


FAMOUS STORIES FOR GIRLS 

By Charlotte M. Vaile 


The Orcutt Girls 

OR, ONE TERM AT THE ACADEMY. 316 pp. 

Sue Orcutt 

A SEQUEL TO “THE ORCUTT GIRLS.” 335 pp. 

These companion volumes are among the most 
popular books for girls which have ever been written 
concerning school life. In these books Mrs. Vaile 
depicts that old ^ academic life which used to be so 
great a feature in the life of New England. Mrs. 
Vaile shows her intimate knowledge of the^ subject, 
and both books are full of incentive and inspiration. 

Wheat and Huckleberries 

OR, DR. NORTHMORE’S DAUGHTERS. 336 pp. 

Another story for girls with the true ring of genuine- 
ness, and as the two girls around whorn the story cen- 
ters were born and brought up in the rich farm regions 
of the Middle West, and then spent their summers in 
the New England home of their grandfather, the author 
has been able to weave into her narrative the various 
peculiarities of both sections. 

Each volume is fully illustrated. Price, $1.35 net 


The M. M. a 

A STORY OF THE GREAT ROCKIES. 232 pp. 

The experience of a New England girl in the Colorado 
mining camp. It sliows the pluck of the little school 
teacher in holding for her friend a promising mining 
claim which he had secured after years of misfortune 
in other ventures. 

Fully illustrated. Price, $1.00 


By jimy E. Blanchard 


1i,eVolutionary Series for Girts 

A Girl of ’76 

ABOUT COLONIAL BOSTON 881 pages 

A Revolutionary Maid 

A STORY OF THE MIDDLE PERIOD IN THE WAR FOR 
INDEPENDENCE 821 pages 

A Daughter of Freedom 

A STORY OF THE LATTER PERIOD OF THE WAR FOR 
INDEPENDENCE 312 pages 

The first volume of this series treats of the early period of the 
Revolution; the second of the middle period; while the last deals 
with the closing events of the long and successful struggle for 
independence. 

Illustrated. Cloth. $1.35 each net 

War of 1812 Series 

A Heroine of 1812 

A MARYLAND ROMANCE 885 pages 

A Loyal Lass 

A STORY OF THE NIAGARA CAMPAIGN OF 1814 

319 pages 

This period is divided into two volumes, the one describing the 
causes of the war and the location of the places most intimately 
connected with the earlier events; while the latter is located along 
the northern border of our country and shows the strife which was 
carried on in this locality prior to the termination of the war. 

Illustrated. Cloth. $1.35 each net 

In the American Girt Series 

A Gentle Pioneer 

BEING THE STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS IN THE NEW 
WEST 339 pages. 

Bonny Lesley of the Border 

A STORY 331 pages 

A Frontier Knight 

A STORY OF EARLY TEXAN BORDER LIFE 389 pages 
In these three stories of pioneer life the author has tried to show 
the important part played by the women who went forth with hus- 
band and father to endure the privations and share the adventures 
of frontier life. 

Illustrated. Cloth. $ .60 each net 

Atso books in the Girts* *Bookshetf 

l~n ■ irm , 


vV ^ / » > * 


1 ■ • ^ 
'-v'* 

I* 




1 *^ 



S .* f. r” • •■ ' ^ »- .' 

v“ »Tv (, ‘ -, f 

’. • ' ,.’1 



•■ . r. n 

•'' •■' t.j,; 

I 


* . ’ Ir tv ' ■'■' J 

:/. *■ -r.fw ^ V;/ .ri ' ’ ''-'^V ^' ■ ■ -^ 

'..M ^ ( '» 




i 


•f 


'i 


> I 


r 




i • 


' 'f • ■ '/■; i. 



' -^iiy 

V .■ ' 


■* v 




» t 


j 

> 

Ik' 


V 


• t ir ■ , 

*,vc ' '■ 


V /i ’ V. ' 
;»; '‘^- 


f 


. <H « »» 

V ' iv-* 


,f 


' . 

» 

» . 


:;f V 


l» 


1 


1 

h 


\ a‘ —r- 

V 'V.^r : 

'i- ,:, s ^ * ' 


■ . 


». 


t . 


t ' I 


' ■ ■ ;■ . •- • r ••: ■ • . vJ 

' *• V ^ 4 . ,i /r ,:,' s ^ '•'• * " • 

■ ■■ ■•' \’\A *■ " ....■ ' 

. • ,, I i ^ * M‘ '' ' 'i '• ■ '1 


■■>, 


I • ; ' . .1 / 

.k' • . 1 


<4 


V \ 




VC • , 


r- 




'. I 









'■'■:< 


.'r ''’v- v 'M 


:sv 


r. . 


V 'k i' ' '%v,v/> ' ; 






I 




'll 


\i 

‘.i.v 


4 1 


.'• <■ 

V-' 






f y 

■V -Pfe V- ' ■ ' . • ‘V 

k ••■ * V ^ • .‘v*. 



‘J • 

^ » 'j.' 


k. ^ 


I I 


'.JV^ 


s'- 

IV ^Mass^!^' :• v.?' ^ .V- -^N 


" . . 

t . 


.'^• 



* * 

>£i ^>. ^ 




OT'';-' ,^ 77 *';] ' ..v 

Kii' ■. Jv-' *■ ■ 

\ ^ 4 « 




I 


• • ' 


i 




» . 




k . 




■' I 




r. / _ ‘ • ' * 

e^'j; 4 #... 










* .. 


' y Jit \C X ' *' V'* 


»;c' .'"i 





. • ' 


' \ 


. \ 


t . 


■ I 

- , ■ ■^ t > : . * 

. • • .V Ai-...'. 



I f ^ f *11 K * ■• } ' . I 


• « ' « s 



' :ium 




a fi 


, •• i ■ 

4 * i ■ 

* - . t 


' I 


• ' . 




:•■ ;■ 


.1 



1 < ( 


' * V * ■ ■■ r* 

A • “ 




1'; j - ‘ 




I -I 


/ ■ 


^ - 




' « »V I 





orasi 


. ' r 

'■' ■’ «' ■■ 

1^. > 


( « 


\ - 


•41. . •' **< 


f*t 


|v . . > tV.Vr 

•'.r • * 


wr 

'■< 


•If. 

.< « .'• y 






> •»* 

T 

4 ii 





"1 


I 

•' 


I • 

V 




« 



ilf- 


« '« 









-K 




i) 


» • •. 




• t 


r ■ 

. 4 


* 


. P 




A 


• ^ 

» ^ 




V • 


<> 


/S 




■ I 

I • 


.' »■ 


= r 



\ 


t- 


«' 






# « 

4 

• t 




r 



V . 

♦ 


■1 : 




R 


A.‘ 


.V 


• a 




.J 


>y- 

J V , ^ • 




'• ' ’r* 

« 

9 

A 

• ’ 



• 

C ' ^■' 

•V 

•» . 

* ,# 



m*. *■ V,. . 

- • '• 



. . j p' 

'.V •'*. 


.'r, 

> • • 

• 

* » ' * 


• 

j - 

* i 



- > 


A 


a. 


• I 



S .'f'A. 


* V 


' » 


• < 


. A 

» t 


- I.^.l 


'( 


i 

» • •. 


■*■ ■ 

. ♦ 

» • •’ v.t <. 


>- 


>: 




' f , I 






•7 



f, » , 

' . < . 


rt' 91 I 





» -/ n 









c. 




. 1- 


MiMbT-Ci 





: » V 




'»• *,*’y 


> % . 


i 


'M 

I ■ I 

. >■ 


Wa 




't ' ' y 

. V 


>' i *1 . ' 

..li; ^ ••kViA 


I > 

•' ■ 




■'/ 


• ; V ' ♦ 


^ ' ; - 

, . . ' a*' 

4. jr^ 








.■i4.'‘ .vSt' 




».4 t 

i 


* 


♦ V 


\; 






